Black Skirt Tetras - shoaling/schooling?

[rykitten]

Hi Everyone,

I have not ventured until this section because my black skirt Tetras have never brought me any problems. I wanted to add a few more fish to my tank and was thinking of getting a few more B.S. Tetras. I have 2 now, how many more should I get?

Does anyone know how to tell a male from a female?

Thanks!

 

[sushi]

how big are yours? I've got six. their bodies are probably about 1" long, maybe slightly less. At this size I am able to clearly tell the different sexes.
WIth mine, the females are sooooooo fat. Really. I thought they were dying. they have really fat tummies. the males are (in my case) paler in the fins and very flat. definately not so brightly coloured, and their bodies aren't so deep, more long looking.
Also, apparently the female ones last stripe towards their tale end is supposed to be directly above the front of the anal fin. Personally I don't get this, cause none of mine are like this.
Being tetras, they're supposed to be kept in schools - 5or6 or more. SO maybe just form a nice little group, they're a pretty fish to have in your tank.
Hope that helps. There's also heaps of websites on them - breeding, sexing etc etc. I'll try and find one.

 

[sushi]

me again. here's a couple of links for a couple of websites about black skirts/widows.
black skirts

more black skirts