We have seen dominant females of several Paro-species in situations where males were missing displaying reduced colouration of males. To me, this was very obvious in case of a tweediei-female which adopted all fin colours of tweediei-males in a reduced form. Even sexy eyes were to be seen (in a reduced form), and she sometimes stayed for minutes in a cave. I was sure she was a female only because the male had died and she had spawned with him before.
So, I suppose we have a similar behaviour in this case. A dominant female tries to play the role of a male, but that does not work, of course. But we shall see. I cannot exclude a subdominant male or even a new form, although botz is unlikely. It would have all the time and possibility before to develop normale male colouration and behaviour. If a proper cave is missing, they take an improper one (below leaves or algae-paddings).
By the way: Stefanie’s fish remind me at the most of Parosphromenus gunawani, a bintan-like form from county Jambi on Sumatra, formerly called spec. Danau Rasau. It’s the body form which is similar, rather high-built and generally stout and strong. Sumatra was the most-exploited region in Paro-land during the last years. P. gunawani was imported twice privately first (by our friend Horst Linke) and I received some pairs from this import about six years ago. I spawned them with great success, but – alas! – I lost all fish by an Oodinium-attack.