Stupid Question ?

2 cherry barbs. Just moved them to grow out the shrimp I just purchased.
One has always been more of an aggressive chaser. This is also the smaller of the two.

The other is much larger and has a much more rounded belly that is much lighter in color.
They're both red, one is more red than the other.
I'm thinking male/male, but is there a chance these two are a pair ?

Since I moved them the smaller one is still chasing but now every so often they seem to twist together.
Is this breeding behavior or showing flank to establish dominance ?

 

2 cherry barbs. Just moved them to grow out the shrimp I just purchased.
One has always been more of an aggressive chaser. This is also the smaller of the two.

The other is much larger and has a much more rounded belly that is much lighter in color.
They're both red, one is more red than the other.
I'm thinking male/male, but is there a chance these two are a pair ?

Since I moved them the smaller one is still chasing but now every so often they seem to twist together.
Is this breeding behavior or showing flank to establish dominance ?

They're chasing each other because they need to be in a school. Since they aren't, the dominate one will keep bullying the other barb. I advise getting more cherry barbs, however, first, how big is your aquarium?

 

They're in my 10 gal at the moment. But they came out of a 30. They're rescues that I'm harboring atm until I either find someone to take them or if I'm "given" another tank.

 

They're in my 10 gal at the moment. But they came out of a 30. They're rescues that I'm harboring atm until I either find someone to take them or if I'm "given" another tank.

Definitely try to upgrade or rehome them if possible. Having only 2 isn't healthy and housing them in a 10 isn't either.

 

Going to look at another 30 tmrw possibly.
Might just pick that up for them for now until I can find somewhere to go.
They were the only ones that eyeballed my shrimp so they had to go temporarily. Lol
They actually seem a bit happier now.
I had just never seen them do the twisting together thing before I moved them. Looked like breeding behavior to me. Just made me wonder.