They tend to be more timid on weekends when no one is around. Color Rift lake cichlids express timidness and dominance through color. A pale fish is a stressed or timid fish, whereas a very dark fish is a dominant or aggressive fish. The dominant male will have deep vibrant colors or possibly be almost entirely black. The Maylandia crabro on the right has just been transferred into a new tank and is showing stressed coloration.
Most cichlid movements are either threats or flirting.
Telling the difference between the two is fairly difficult. Shimmying or shaking of the fins and tail are usually signs of flirtation. Chasing across the tank is more often a sign of aggression. On the right a female Melanochromis chipokae and a male Maylandia crabro size each other up. If you know the genders of the fish, interpreting behavior is easier.