Advice please

I am looking after someones african cichlids, one of them an electric yellow
and it's mate seemed to have had babys, the fish with the least colour is
carrying them around in it's mouth. How long will this go on for ?, I
removed this fish from the tank and have it in a smaller holding tank on
it's own. I keep track of the water quality and for now feed it one flake a
day (I havn't noticed it eating anything).

So, whats the deal with these guys, what do you do to give these new little
fish a chance ?