Fish Behaviour Generally & Tetras' Breeding Behaviour - "log"

Nice write-up. It certainly sounds like the ladies are in charge of proceedings in your tank.

At Robert's request, I'm putting the forum "back on track" with a fish-themed update.

S, the largest of the two lady tetras, has become so large lately that she resembles a fantail goldfish in shape. Her tail is vivid red, and there are no signs of anything untoward, so I'm assuming that either she's full of eggs or her insurpassable skills in tank coverage to retrieve what seems to be at least 50% of the food are taking their toll on her "waistline". She's also not letting anyone near her other than V, the other, slightly-more-in-trim female tetra. Meanwhile, the smallest male seems to spend a lot of time with V and swimming under her tail. In the evenings, the tetras seem to enjoy admiring their own reflections in the glass near the adjacent table lamp.

Three harlequins (The 3 Musketeers) spend a lot of time competing with one another, possibly showing off in front of Wee Harley (who may be the only female harlequin) and unfortunately the two smaller harlequins Wee Harley and Little Harley get pushed up into the canopy regularly where they spend time resting in the leaves. However, they're doing well at "holding their own" and spending time in the main part of the tank as and when they please along with Bachelor Harley who is quite happy on his own or mixing with anyone. One/some/all of The 3 Musketeers (can't tell the difference between them but it always seems to be the one that locates himself nearest to me against the glass and seems to be forever watching me) is now successful in challenging and sending any of the tetras - females included - to any part of the tank of his choice by swimming up behind them and moving them from whatever spot they have claimed.

These were the best pics of the selection I took this eve - if anything, it will give each of you the opportunity to say "at least my photography skills are better than that!"

Looks good to me, I can see fish (all in focus) and tell what type the are. 

My photo attempts normally don't turn out so well - a coloured blur = a fish!  Photos of the cories are ok as long as I catch them when they are resting.

Well I for one would enjoy a video of a sulking harlequin 

Hahahaha yeah I'd like to see that!.

The tetras were back at their "antics" again this morning - crazily chasing around the tank like conjoined quadruplets. I couldn't take my work seriously with four bodies falling into a plant and heads trembling among the leaves in my peripheral vision, and so I had to move into the spare room to work there for the remainder of the day. A few signs of "activity" among the harlequins who must be reaching / have reached maturity by now - but not on a par with the tetras!

I'm very fond of them all - they're cute in different ways. I love their eyes which are bright in both species. The tetras' blood-red tails and black/yellow dorsal fins are particularly attractive, while the females' foraging antics and males' playful spats are quite amusing. The harlequins' colouring/patterning is attractive, especially with the shimmer around the edge; their mischievous behaviour is quite endearing.