Apistogramma Macmasteri Red Breeding Question.

[Wansui]

Hello, I've had a female Apistogramma Macmasteri for about 2 months now, and shes settled in well. She has established a territory in the bottom right of my aquarium, where her terracotta pot is. There is another terracotta pot at the other end of the aquarium just in case. Yesterday I bought a male Macmasteri as I though maybe she would like to breed. He seems to have settled, but the female isn't happy with him at all. He is still a juvenile it would seem, and is about half a CM smaller than the female. My worry is that she chases him alot, and get right up next to him, flares her fins and tail whips him. Will this stop eventually? Is it because of of his small size? I really would like these guys to breed, so any advise would be appreciated. There are plenty of plants for cover, and the aquarium is 240 litres.

 

[DrRob]

You've added another fish to the territory of the female, who is happily established and feels that her area has been invaded.
 
It's possible that she wants to breed and he isn't ready, which could be more trouble, but more likely it's the territory thing. Ideally you need to move the decor around so that both feel that they're in a new area and a new pecking order can be established, hopefully with a pairing as well.