Strange Clown Fish Behivior

[Cantra]

Max and Danielle are the names of my fish.I've had them for 2 weeks. They are in a 20 gallon tank with no other fish. They are both about one and a half inches in length. Max has chased Danielle out of her shell and is now staying there but thats not the weird thing. Max has attacked her basically he doesn't hurt her but he does nip at her alot and has put a couple little nicks in her tail though earlier today i did notice that when she got to close the shell he really did attack her and grabed onto her underside. Usually Max doesn't do that and Danielle will turn back around and open her mouth and go after him and he'll flip on his side and sometimes he looks likes he's having a siezure.

Another thing I've noticed them doing is rubbing up against a the shell that max took from danielle. Its the flat part and its not rough.

Whats going on?

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

First of all, what are your water parameters? Second, do you know how to tell the genders of your clown fish?

[Cantra]

I'm not sure what the parameters are right now all I can test for is amonia and its at zero or at least very little. I'm taking a water sample to my lfs tomorrow to get tested so I should know then.

I've been told the way to tell the difference is that the female will be bigger and the male will be smaller but they are the same size right now with Danielle a little thinner than Max. Also that the female is the dominent one but they keep switching back and forth with who is more dominent. though Max seems to act more submissive when Danielle goes after him but he also tears into her. Danielle never takes anything from him and will go after him if he goes after her.

[Cantra]

Also i've noticed they seem to get along sometimes and swim next to each other. Most of the time its after they have eaten or shortly after the lights have been turned off.

[jman]

they are fighting to pick sex when one is being more aggressive 9 times out of 10 they will be the female and the little aggression they have will stop just make sure that they are well fed i didn't have this much of a problem only because i kept their belly's full enough. don't over feed either because clowns always pretend to be hungry especially at this size