black neon tetra aggression,and behavior

one of my bigger black neon tetras love the flow from my small filter,when any other black neon gets within a foot of her she chases them away...why?

I have males and female since ive seen them "dance" (for lack of better words) around each other,and how do I get them to spawn?

 

It's the picking order.
One big female is in top of the hierarchy !

 

but shouldnt they still school together?

 

Neons aren't really schoolers. When they are at ease they'll stay in each others neighbourhood but will no school as cardinals.
How big is your tank ?

 

then why are they called schooling fish???

its a 38 gallon

 

Cause they will act in a school when feeling unsafe and their social behaviour (mating aso) is expressed in school as well. As said neons tend to "divide" when they are ar easy. Alone or more often in small groups.
Cardinals and rummynoses are "better" schoolers ot shoalers (someone else can make that difference clearer).

 

Like Double said there schooling fish but only when needed for there safety it seems. That being said they do like to have the group to fall back on so should be kept as schools. My black neons are almost always just swimming on there own or hanging out in a side of the tank but not really together just close enough to know the others are there if needed. (kind of like a mom keeping a eye on a kid, they go off to play alone but not out of eye sight. They need to have time to group if something goes wrong) Now and then they school and all swim from one side of the tank to the other and back but very rarely and when they do my oto tend to join them. My other Neon Tetra seem to stay a little more schooled but more like groups of 2-4 that will now and then all join up(10). I also have a full grown angel in my tank and they don't even see that as a reason to stay grouped. My tank is a 55 just to give you a idea on space they have tho my blacks normally all stay to half the tank.