Sometimes, for whatever reason, young ones seem to do that. Truth be told, the female after pairing is still pretty bossy. Mine started as tiny babies and now over seven yrs. later she still shoves him around. Plus he is about half the size.
He has to do most of the fanning and attending the eggs. If he attempts to eat before her, she gives him a shove back into their house. Whenever I,m in the tank, she sends him out to take care of the intruder. You can tell by watching him that he knows his place in the order also.
