Marmalade cat typically refers to male Labeotropheus (fuelleborni or trewavasae) that carry the sex-linked male-recessive OB gene that causes blotching. Sometimes people like to be less specific and also include zebra sp., while others like to be more specific and suggest that only certain OB color patterns count while others don't.
My point - it was possible that you might have 2 males hanging out. If the OB one is fully a drab coloration though, it's a female.
As far as the male holding, it wouldn't be the first time I've heard of it, but I've also never seen it myself and used to breed red top trewavasae. How large are your fish?
One possible explanation could be that it's holding rocks/sand for some strange reason, if it does indeed have something in it's mouth. Nothing personal, I just like to remain skeptical.
