Apistogramma keeps hiding in spawning cave

[Don90]

As above. I've got a female ap. maciliensis from apistoworld, the problem is it won't come out of the spawning cave, not even when I throw food inside! It has been like that for about 1 week already.

How do I get it out? This happened quickly after I added in a spawning cave and removed the emperor tetras from the tank. It is the only fish in the tank.

Will live brine shrimp be able to entice the fish out?

The male will arrive come tuesday!

[FishSoup]

Hmm.. maybe try adding some dither fish?

the female might be frightened all alone in the tank.. a couple of small dithers might give her the confidence she needs to venture out