Silvertip Tetras Breeding Or Ill?

[Harlequins]

Hi all

i've 6 silvertip tetras,looking at them it appears i have 1 male and 5 females,at the moment the male seems to be chasing 2 of the females not aggressively,they're swimming all over the tank then they come together side by side,then the females are lying sideways on the bottom panting hard,seems to shake with the male hovering over her,then she gets up and they start all over again?

Is this mating/breeding ?

Or are they poorly?

Any help please

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Yes... They are busy breeding...... They are egg scatterers, (like Zebra Danio).... the shaking movement is when the eggs are released from the female and as they fall to the bottom, the male sprays a cloud of sperm over them.... The correct porportions however would be to have about 5 males to "about" 3 or 4 females.... If they are left in there after the spawning cycle though.... nothing will come of it as the eggs will be devoured even before they hatch.

 

[Harlequins]

oh wow! thanks for info,i'm assuming i have 1 male to 5 females,the male is alot darker and copper colour compared to the others,i only noticed it the other day has i've only had them about a week!

Just looked for eggs,but didn't spot any,please excuse my ignorance but will the eggs be white? i'm only use to livebearers,this is all new to me

 

[Harlequins]

Well theres alot of activity going on with the tetras,

I'm sure the female is dropping eggs but they appear to be grey in colour???,unless its something in the sand?? the harlequins are definately eating something when the tetras move away,and the harleys never really go near the bottom of the tank!!

i did take short video on my camera of them down on the floor shaking but it didn't come out very clear,bit blurry!

edited to add the male seems to have formed a lump under its belly,i wasn't sure if its overfill from frozen bloodworm earlier?