Black Phantom Tetra.....breed?

[Nastihabits]

I have a pair of Black Phantom Tetra's, and I just turned off their light just a few minutes ago. when I was getting on the forums, and then I noticed that one of them would swim right up next to my other Tetra, and kinda turn sideways and flap (His?) fin at her, and curling it in. Tooo meeee.... It looks like a him (I guess I have now) is releasing sperm over her/eggs since they are staying low, and in the pretty much the same location, maybe could be eggs? I figured I had a male, and female, because I attempted to sex them by fin length and the other little differences in white coloring on fin ect.. Im not sure, is that how these tetras do this? If im not mistaken, to encourage this they prefer the lights off? So I could be right???

 

[Rummynose]

Black Phantom Tetra males are all black and grey, Black Phantom Tetra females have red pectoral fins. The males have longer fins, the females have short fins.

They are Tetras and you should have at least 6 of them!

 

[Nastihabits]

I am well aware the are a schooling fish who prefer their own kind. I have them with 5 Neon Tetras, and I recently lost one of my Phantoms which is why I have just the pair. They all have school together since the day of them all inhabiting the tank, and they couldn't seem happier with their school. About the sexing now, I was aware of everything you said but, the red pectoral fins that the females have? She doesn't seem to have any red.

 

[fluttermoth]

If she doesn't have red pectoral fins, then she's not a she! If they're both males, what you're seeing is probably a dominance issue.

You should really look at getting some more phantoms, if your tank has room; other tetra species are not a good substitute for their own kind

 

[Nastihabits]

I do have room for a few more at least enough to make them happier, and I wasn't sure if the Neon Tetras would be a good substitute, but they wouldn't leave their school and vice versa.
Thanks for the help! ill be going to my LFS tomorrow and get them some friends, if that's what will make them happy! Will they continue their little dominance dance they are doing quit after that? Or is that just something they do, no matter the number? They are not fin picking so it seems harmless.

 

[fluttermoth]

Fish will school with others of different species in 'desperation', if there's not enough of their own kind. There will probably still be a bit of posing for dominance (my phantoms do it too!) but they don't hurt each other

 

[Nastihabits]

Poor guys... Didn't know I was making them that lonesome.
Thanks Guys! I will get on the new Tetras tomorrow.