Questions on safely pairing flowehorns

[Travisjt1013]

I have a beautiful female flowerhorn that I wanted to breed with my larger male redtexas x flowerhorn hybrid... Is there any way to make sure my beautiful show quality female doesn't get killed while trying to pair them? I mean I've already gotten them into their own tank with a divider and have been watching them for a while, but every time they get any together time they are pretty aggressive to each other and my once beautiful show fh is now looking a bit more like a zombie until she heals up completely.
For now until she has had enough time to fully healed I am planning on keeping them separated, but wanted to know if there are any tips or tricks to getting my male to not tear her to shreds every time they meet...
It should be noted that generally she is the agressor running up to him and locking lips, however with his much larger size he has beaten her up pretty badly just by knocking her about on the substrate and tank divider... I just don't want my girl to die on me, but i feel like they would make gorgeous fry...
Also, any tips on speeding up her healing process would be greatly appreciated. For now I've just been keeping a close watch on tank water perimeters, keeping the tank heat up at about 82-83 and treating my water with a double dose of stress coat every waterchange. I also added aquarium salt after I noticed her torn fins and missing scales, but salt doesn't evaporate right, so I don't want to add too much by adding some with every waterchange.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Normally I would say add a pot or cave with a hole in it that only she can fit in. This might not work in your case since the female is actually the aggressor. She is less likely to hide when it would be smart to hide, and more likely to keep instigating, and ignore the cave. Might just be her hybrid aggression. Or the two may just not be a good match. I would let her heal then try again with the hiding cave available. And if it's the same results, I would probably give up on that pair.

 

[Travisjt1013]

Thanks, I'll have to try that. I tried putting a hole in the divider that only she can fit thru hence the zip tied trap door I put on to keep her on her own side, but it seems as though once he has had enough of her bs and starts fighting back she has trouble finding the hole again and panicks Wich results in her just bashing the divider with her head Wich is no good... Maybe with the pot it will be a more obvious retreat for her and she won't get confused trying to swim through a divider

 

[Jexnell]

I have seen peole use milk crates as a cave for the female. Make a couple ways just she can get in it.

I have also seen where they take out enough of the divider to fit a plate in the center of the tank. Females lays eggs on her side. I guess they spin it so he can do his part. Then remove I guess.
With your divider it would be easy just take out the bottom row just wider than the plate.

 

[Travisjt1013]

The plate idea seems smart. Just have to catch her right after she's laid her eggs. Someone else on fishlore also said they have witnessed large cichlids spawn thru the divider... Not sure now that works because usually the male follows the female over the egg bunch to fertilize the eggs. So far I think I like the plate idea best as it allows me to keep them separated... She's just too stubborn for her own good and I fear putting them together would just ultimately mean I loose one of my favorite fish when she refuses to back down from him. I have to admit I like her spunk tho. Some females I own are just so timid... She's over her like lemme attem dad I'ma eff him up