Butterfly cichlid behaviour

Hello again!
I was wondering if any of you know if it's normal for butterfly cichlids to open and close their mouths constantly?! I just got them today, nitrite is 0, nitrate is below 0.5, ph 8. They seem happy enough and are roaming around eating off the bottom... But they are both doing the mouth thing, and simultaniously their gills are doing that aswell, but in time with their fin movements... Anybody know anything about this? They're not anywhere near the top, so I wouldn't say from my experience that theyre suffering from air starvation. They were doing it when they were still in the bag when I introduced them. But don't honedtly know for sure just what the deal is never having seen them in action!
Thanks, hope you can help!
Felix

 

there several cichlids called butterfly cichlids. Could you describr the fish for us please? Or post a picture?Thanks
Carol

 

here it is...wouldn't get very close to the glass so this is the best I can do! Any ideas?

 

It looks like a german blue ram(Microggeophagus ramirezi). If their color is good and their eating I would keep an eye on them. They can be a little sensitive to water conditions so I would watch this also. The recommended size tank for Rams is at least 20 gallons since they need lots of plants and hiding places as well as rocks to spawn on. Other than that I don't know why they would be "panting" (for want of a better word)
Carol

 

Mine did this a lot when I would drop sinking pellets for my corys and bottom dwellers is there any chance of you giving food that would be a struggle for them to eat whole?

 

well, as it's the first day, i've heard that it's best not to feed them too much, but I did put some flakes in there and they very passively munched at them near the bottom... I'm not sure that's it, but I very much appreciate your imput! Keep it coming!! Thankyou!
Felix