clownfish making a nest?

[wwildcats04]

I have a single Ocellaris clown fish in with an Alleni Damsel and they hang out together like a mated pair sometimes and for some reason the clown is making what looks to be a nest in the sand by going down in it and moving its body around in an almost convulsion type action and she is making a crater basically in the sand bed... whats going on?
I checked her over and over a lot for external parasites and I saw none and I have been feeding food w/ garlic so I doubt that there would be internal parasites... I have noticed my yellow watchmen has taken a disliking to the clown and was head butting the clown while she was resting in her "nest"

 

[IslandCrow]

I think this is pretty normal for clowns. My maroon is quite the redecorator. She's cleared out just about all of the sand in her little area of the tank. I think it's just their way of marking their territory.

 

[reefD]

that shivering is normally behavior. not nesting yet just bonding. first a site must be established for at least a steady 6 months. then constant staying in one place is established...then lots of bitting behavior. any interuotins during this point is harmful. . next the begin to shiver alot and clear area repeatedly. prior to the act about a few weeks prior youll see a what looks like clear fecal amtter comming from the anus. this is actually a tube that the female uses for eggs. it always presents itself prior to the spawn ( weeks before. ) this is when the act is close. its very complecated but after its establish the continue like rabbits and its hard to interupt the activities regularity.

 

[dantodd]

uhh... actually I doubt you're clownfish will ever breed with your damsel.

And I've never heard of a clown's ovipositor being extended except when she is laying, maybe a few minutes before and after. Certainly not weeks.

As for the OP's question. Lots of clowns will clean out areas of sand on the tank bottom. It is likely some part of setting up territory which, in turn, is part of the pairing process. Personally I'd much rather see her with a fish that actually has a chance of forming a true pair-bond with her but I am not aware of any research that says her life will be shortened by a lack of a mate.