Male apistogramma agassizii double red chasing female

[Julian]

Hi I have a male apostogramma Agassizii double red chasing my female in a planted 20 gallon community with rummy nose and bristle nose why is he chasing her

 

[MacZ]

That's normal. Cichlids do that. Can be territorial behaviour or breeding behaviour among others.
Has she got places to hide?

Combining Apistogramma and bristlenose plecos is not a good idea, btw.

 

[Julian]

There are a lot of driftwood rocks and Java moss

 

[CRD]

He wants to breed. She doesn't. Typical get with the program, or get outta my house behavior from the male.

 

[Julian]

How would I get her to breed or would I have to get another female

 

[CRD]

An abundance of high quality live, and/or frozen foods does the trick for most of them. Another female is probably a poor decision in a 20 gallon...

 

[Julian]

Will blood worms work

 

[CRD]

Will blood worms work

I would consider bloodworms more of a once a week treat, and not a conditioning food to be used often. In some cases, too many bloodworms = dead apistogramma.

 

[Julian]

what about live daphnia or what would be best

 

[Julian]

Or mosquito larva

 

[MacZ]

Artemia, Cyclops, white and black moskito larvae, daphnia... All of these. But the whole tank should have the right conditions. Not just the food. The bristlenose is really a problem. Not only is a 20 gallon too small for the bioload a bristlenose pleco poses, it will also disturb the apistos at night and may occupy possible breeding caves. Unless the conditions are better the female not being willing to breed and the chasing situation won't be better.
Do you have a picture of the tank?