These guys are Mbuna and will more than likely shred the tender types of plants usually the Anubias and Java are a bitter tougher plant and is what most pros will recommend. Your call i have kept several types of Anubias in a Mbuna setup I am sure it will look good if you add a lot of Anubias..
Plus minnows are usually kept in really cold temps, If you need a fish cycle go to the local pet store and get you a couple of medium sized goldfish and take them out when your tank is ready.
Not really, Yellow labs have been bred so many times possibly poor genes so every now and then you will get a deformed, best thing to do is put it down africans have a hard time living together normally even harder when it is all jacked up and deformed..
Try using a paper clip while pressing her lip down with the paper clip and swish her rearwards in a large bowl of tank water the eggs should fall out.. Watch your pressure you can injure her jaw..