Thanks for the replies - here are some more specifics:
1) I'm as sure as I can be (1st tank, 1st pair of clowns) that they're m&f. The bully is twice the size as the little one. I got them at the same time this past Feb. They were both quite small juveniles.
Sounds like a safe bet, then.
2) The bullying is not as bad as it was a month or two ago - I think when they were determining sex. It happens pretty often - about every other time I look at the tank (1/2 the time). The female seeks out the male and pecks (?) at him and chases him around the tank.
They may still be sorting it out a bit...
3) The male eats well, but tends to try to stay unobtrusive. He hides/cowers, but not so much that I can't find him easily.
4) Actually, the female kind of does this shake thing sometimes - like she's trying to get water out of her ear. Not sure if this is the behavior you're asking about, since this fish has done this weird shaking thing since I first brought them home
Yes, that's the shake. Usually the male is doing it in response to an attack from the female, ime. But, I've also seen it in reverse sometimes. Definitely pairing behavior.
5) Male is a bit tattered looking. During the big battle she took off most of one of. his side fins, which is now growing back nicely. But... he just looks run down, down on his luck
kind of shabby, little splotchy, cowering, etc.
Hope this clarifies!
You have to make a call. At this point I'd head to Petsmart and grab a breeding net to have on hand. You can put the male in the breeding net, or vice versa (perhaps better, actually)--the point is to separate them, but keep them in eye and chemical contact with one another while the male rests up a bit and heals the splotches and tattered fins. They may still exhibit pairing behavior during their little separation
Thanks for the help!
