Macmasteri aggression/sexing

[Redocean58]

So I have been trying to breed a couple of apistos and the female (I think) has been extremely aggressive lately. Any tips on what to do. I currently have the male in a breeder box to separate. Heavy planted tank lots of line of sight breaks 2 caves facing different directions. Any chance the "female" could be a male? Fish in question is the back one in first picture.

 

[MacZ]

What I can see of the tank looks quite open still.

The problem with these domestic breeds is their almost complete inability to change their colour. The patterns and markings are used to communicate. Fish of that breed you have there are basically just holding up one sign all the time and are unable to read what the other one is holding up.
This results just as often in aggression as it does in ignorance. Your fish has obviously decided to become aggressive.
Additionally up to a certain size sexing is also impossible.

I'd remove both from the tank, rearrange all decorations so they do not resemble the current tank, add the same time or the female first and go from there.
Also: It is completely irrelevant which way caves face. Except for brooding or as a hide when really threatened most dwarf cichlids ignore them. Care to share a picture of the whole tank?

I personally wouldn't breed them. I have a strong distaste for domestic animals that have lost their ability for natural behaviour.

 

[Redocean58]

What I can see of the tank looks quite open still.

The problem with these domestic breeds is their almost complete inability to change their colour. The patterns and markings are used to communicate. Fish of that breed you have there are basically just holding up one sign all the time and are unable to read what the other one is holding up.
This results just as often in aggression as it does in ignorance. Your fish has obviously decided to become aggressive.
Additionally up to a certain size sexing is also impossible.

I'd remove both from the tank, rearrange all decorations so they do not resemble the current tank, add the same time or the female first and go from there.
Also: It is completely irrelevant which way caves face. Except for brooding or as a hide when really threatened most dwarf cichlids ignore them. Care to share a picture of the whole tank?

I personally wouldn't breed them. I have a strong distaste for domestic animals that have lost their ability for natural behaviour.

Well that is some really awesome information. Some I wouldn't even have thought of. Here is a picture of the tank. I will try and rearrange like you said.