I've got this 5.5 gallon planted aquarium. In it I have a pair of Killifish, 7 Rathbuna Tetras and some Algae shrimp. It's been up and running for almost a year, and it's uber peaceful. But today, something happened, and the fish wigged out! I tossed in a chunk of frozen shrimp and they began chowing down. One of the algae shrimp yoinked a little chunk right as the female killi was gonna snatch it. She's a very voracious eater, prone to pigging out and stuff. She instantly got pissed and showed the shrimp who the boss was. At first I think she just wanted the food back - she aggressivly and quickly chased him to the other side of the aquarium and back, but she ended up with the shrimp's head in her mouth and took off his antennae and a chunk of his head (after some aggressive gnawing and thrashing). The male killi saw this going down and he joined in, munching on the shrimp's head and carrying him around the aquarium a bit. Then he got disinterested after a few more pecks. The female pecked some more too, then got disinterested. After the Killi's moved off the little Rathbunas moved in and began pecking at the dying shrimp. They even pecked right at his head where the existing wound was. I think they were acting like birds - they saw the weakness and went bonkers. Wild! I've never seen anything like this before in that aquarium. Normally it's soooo docile and tranquil in there. I managed to snap some pics, but I was all in a tizzy, so only 3 turned out. Here ya go.
I just like to yoink on rare fish when I see them. I witnessed my Rathbunas doing what I assumed to be a mating ritual (based on how my other tetras do it), so mebbe I'll have some babies.