sixtyfou
Aquarium Advice Freak
I'm confused Mike, why not use a net? Here is my latest rescue a 13" Amphilophus labiatus in which I used a 5g bucket and a 10" net. Using your hands is fine as well as long as they're wet, or I've wrapped them in a wet towel too.
I recently rescued a female A. Labiatus looks very similar to yours without the head bump. I know very little about cichlids. I've been reading a lot, but I'd love to ask you some questions about yours. First question what are the smaller schooling fish you have in there with him? Are you having trouble with aggression? What are you feeding him?