Neon Tetra - Schooling Fish or Territorial?

I've always read that the neon tetra was a peaceful, schooling fish. However, personal experience dictates otherwise as I've kept them in groups of 10 or more (depending on tank size) and observed territorial behaviour, slightly reminiscent of cichlids. For instance, right now I have 10 neons in a 10 gallon tank (planted primarily with anubias nana and 2 smaller pieces of driftwood; stocked with 2 small blue rams as well and 1 clown pleco) and when the lights are on, they have their own territories staked out (and I've even observed them coming up behind the rams and nipping at their back fin to push them away on occasion). When the lights are off, they leave their spots and school.

I realize that the tank may be stocked too heavily for its size (1/2 of water changed once every weekend), but has anyone else had any similar experiences or thoughts? To me, a good example of a schooling species is the rummy nose tetra.

It's possible that the size of the aquarium and the number of its inhabitants has some effect on shoaling behavior. Crowding alone can cause territorial disputes, and ten gallons does not provide much horizontal space for a school to roam. Someone else may have a more definitive answer.

neon or sp of tetras love to hide,they like plants and driftwoods to hide behind it.when you on the light they hide beside it bcoz i think aquariu water gallon to light ratio is higher than normal one which means you my put brighter light in a smaller tank..so the tetras don't able to survive with this brightness of light and they hide besides plants and driftwood rather than schooling...