Why is male macmasteri suddenly staying in cave

[JeffInKentucky]

I have a pair of young macmasteris that I’ve had for a month. They have hung closely with each other and are very active and healthy and not shy at all. The last few days I have noticed that the male has been hiding out in a cave at the other side of the tank. No noticeable aggression at all from the female. He comes out to eat, but will go right back in. I would expect from the female, but not from the male.

Any ideas why this behavior change?

 

[Ben Rhau]

Are you sure it’s a male?

 

[JeffInKentucky]

Are you sure it’s a male?

Yes. 100% sure.

 

[Ben Rhau]

I guess I would look for signs either that the female is brooding or the male is stressed for some other reason. If you feed on the female's side, does she chase the male away?

 

[JeffInKentucky]

I guess I would look for signs either that the female is brooding or the male is stressed for some other reason. If you feed on the female's side, does she chase the male away?

That’s the weird thing. She doesn’t bother him at all. He just decided to take up residence there. She hangs out at other side of tank like always. Water parameters are fine and stable.

 

[JeffInKentucky]

Well, after 3 or 4 days he went back out to the general area as before. All is well.

 

[anewbie]

That’s the weird thing. She doesn’t bother him at all. He just decided to take up residence there. She hangs out at other side of tank like always. Water parameters are fine and stable.

Apistogramma like many dwarf cichlid will use signals to warn off other fishes and it is quite possible if the female had eggs so 'told' the male to get lost without physically harming him.