The eggs are laid on a hard surface such as a rock or the tank glass. Usually, the female tends the eggs while the male guards the territory. The development and care of the fry is similar to that of other cichlids. Both fish take a while to grow to breeding size. Urophthalmus takes around 18mth-2yr and festae take a little longer.
Males have green-blue iridescent flecks on their flanks and caudal and dorsal fins.
They also tend to be a bit larger and tend to lose their black stripes as they age. Female festae retain their bright red and black stripes. Mine was about 4 inches when I got her. I believe she was 6 months old then. Maybe she was 9 months.