I saw the same thing with my Festae pair.
The female continued to try an nudge the big man over trying to help him.
At least that’s what it looked like.
I lost him last year on super bowl Sunday that’s how remember I had to stop watching and deal with his passing.
After he was removed from the tank she lost all color which with Festae isn’t unusual.
Lots of females will not show there best colors without a male and vice versus.
But she stopped eating and came down with a nasty eye infection.
I tried treatment but it didn’t work and just a few months from his death she died also.
Coincidence? Maybe, Grieving to death I don’t know.
I think fish can bond.
Maybe I’m seeing emotions where there are none? They can’t tell us so who knows.