Yes, I have the original six I bought in the tank with two straggler keyhole cichlids. I read that they tend to flip out on other fish and that doing so can strengthen the bond, so I figured I would sacrifice them to the brichardi gods. I also have 2 nerite snails and 3 black cones- I've seen the black cones take a run at where the eggs were laid twice now, so that probably helps cull them.
I think you are right about the baby stealing- I've seen the other pair take super fast runs at the babies at least once. Just get in and out and run back to their home base. It could also be that, when I did a huge water change the night before, I swept some around the tank and these babies just accumulated here and set up shop. I am not overly worried about the baby stealing, I don't strive for 100% survivability I want it throttled a bit. I have noticed the original parents (the father in particular) grabbing substrate and dropping it on the babies, as well as taking a pellet he mashed up and dropping it on the babies too. I have not seen this behaviour for the stolen babies, and they do look smaller. I used to have a Ctenopma I was gonna use to cull, but I will have to settle for my friends florida siren hehe.
i got these as the nuclear option for wanting babies (it was between them an convicts but with my SAmerican luck I was like no thanks to that) and also I really like the idea of their swarm brooding, where the older generations help the younger generations.
Any idea how long it takes them to grow til the point where they are more mini fish and less little sperm?
