| Common Name | Silver Dollar Fish |
| Origin | South America |
| Temperature | 75F – 82F |
| Water Parameters | 5.0 – 7.0 pH |
| Adult Size | up to 6 inches |
| Diet | Omnivorous but prefer Herbivorous |
Table of Contents
Silver Dollar Fish Facts
- Silver Dollar Fish are a schooling species that does best when kept in a small grouping of at least 6.
- They are named for their silvery appearance, and similar size to a silver dollar coin.
- In the wild, Silver Dollar Fish only live about 10 years, but in captivity they can grow much larger.
- Silver Dollar Fish have teeth, but they do not use them often.
Silver Dollar Fish Care
Silver Dollar Fish were given their name due to their silvery appearance, and roughly the same size of a silver dollar coin. In the right lighting, Silver Dollar Fish even have a greenish or blueish tint to their bodies. They also have a slight reddish tinge to their anal fins, but this is more often present in the males of the species.
Silver Dollar Fish are a more timid species of fish and they do best when kept in a grouping of 6 or more. It is important to provide them with many places to hide and destress as well. Silver Dollar Fish do not do well on their own.
Are Silver Dollar Fish Easy to Care For?
Silver Dollar Fish are considered hardy and easy to care for as long as you provide them with enough space. If they are kept in too cramped of an aquarium they will not do well. They are fairly tolerant of changes in their water parameters and even cleanliness of their aquarium, but it is still recommended for the health of all species of fish that they be kept in clean water conditions.
Temperature and pH
Even though they are somewhat tolerant of changes in their water parameters, Silver Dollar Fish still have preferred water parameter requirements. They do best when kept at a 5.0 to 7.0 pH, and a temperature of around 75F to 82F.
Silver Dollar Fish are hardy fish that can tolerate changes in their water parameters, and even water cleanliness. Even still, they should be kept in a clean environment so that they do not develop illness.
Food and Diet
Silver Dollar Fish are opportunistic feeders, and this means that in the wild they will eat what they can, but they prefer an herbivorous diet, and will actively go after aquarium plants. It is for this reason that it is recommended to place them in an aquarium that has fake plants opposed to live ones.
Silver Dollar Fish should be offered food at least 2 times per day, and only enough food that they can completely consume in a few minutes to help cut down on waste in your aquarium. You can offer your Silver Dollar Fish finely chopped up, blanched vegetables, and even give them bloodworms as a treat. The meaty treats should only be offered once or twice a week as they do not require it for their diet or health.
Silver Dollar Fish Size and Lifespan
In the wild, Silver Dollar Fish typically don’t live longer than 10 years, but in captivity with the right care, they have been reported to live much longer. Silver Dollar Fish typically grow up to 6 inches in length at full maturity. The health and longevity of these fish is largely dependent on how well they are kept, so if you are hoping to get your Silver Dollar Fish to live a long, happy life, you will want to make sure that you are caring for it appropriately.
Tank Size
Silver Dollar Fish are schooling fish that are happiest when kept in a small grouping of at least 6 or more. To house this size of a school you will need an aquarium that is at least 75 gallons or more if you have the room or resources to provide them. If you can give them more room, even better. Silver Dollar Fish spend most of their time at the top and middle of the water column, and they will do well with a tank that is long or tall.
Tank Setup
When setting up a tank for Silver Dollar Fish, you will need to take a look at their natural environment. By trying to replicate that as closely as possible you will have happier fish in the end. To start, you will want to make sure that you are providing them with adequate enough space to roam and display their unique schooling behaviors. Since Silver Dollar Fish are a more timid species of fish, you will want to make sure that you also provide them with many places to hide and destress.
What is an Ideal Tank Setup for Silver Dollar Fish?
An ideal setup for Silver Dollar Fish is one that not only provides them with enough room to explore and display their unique schooling behaviors, but also one that provides them with plenty of spaces to hide and destress when needed. Silver Dollar Fish spend most of their time at the top and middle of the water column, so make sure to not overcrowd your aquarium with fish that occupy the same space, or you could have issues.
Can I keep Silver Dollar Fish in a Planted Tank?
Silver Dollar Fish love to eat plants, and it is for this reason that they are not recommended for a planted aquarium setup. If you are planning on keeping Silver Dollar Fish but still wanting that planted look, you should opt for fake plants instead and avoid the headache of trying to keep them away from your aquarium plants.
Silver Dollar Fish Breeding
Silver Dollar Fish are an egg laying species. They reach maturity around 1 year old, and roughly about 4 inches in size. When the female and male are ready to spawn, the male will chase the female around for a while until she is ready to lay her eggs. The female Silver Dollar Fish can lay up to 2000 eggs at a time. Once the female lays her eggs, the male will come along and fertilize them.
It is important to note that Silver Dollar Fish are easy to breed, and they will do so in your home aquarium from time to time if you are not paying attention.
Typically the eggs of the Silver Dollar Fish do not take more than a few days to hatch, but the fry are not free swimming at this time. They are still attached to the yolk of the egg. It takes roughly 6 to 9 days for the fry to become free swimming.
Silver Dollar Fish Male or Female
Silver Dollar Fish can be identified male from female, but it is not easy to see until the fish is mature. The anal fin of the male Silver Dollar Fish is slightly longer than that of the female, and is also sometimes tinged in red. If you are wanting to purchase a breeding pair of Silver Dollar Fish for your home aquarium, your best bet is to purchase a group of juveniles and raise them to maturity together.
Disease
Even though Silver Dollar Fish are described as hardy fish, they are still susceptible to many of the same diseases that other freshwater fish are. Some of the ailments that can affect them are:
Ich – Ich is caused by a parasite that attaches itself to the skin and body of your fish. Ich is treatable if caught early enough, and you can identify it just by looking at the body of your fish. Ich shows up as white blotches in clusters along the body of the fish and if left unchecked, the parasites will spread into the gills of the fish making it impossible for the fish to get oxygen from the water.
Flukes – Flukes are another parasite that attaches itself to the body of the fish. They hook onto the skin of the fish with their mouths, and they feed off the mucus membrane and skin cells of the fish. If left untreated it will spread to your other fish in your aquarium.
Constipation – It is possible to feed your Silver Dollar Fish too much, or not correctly. Since these fish love to eat, you may not even notice that they have become unable to pass their waste. Adding more fiber in their diet will help with this. If left unchecked it can cause your fish to become ill and even die, so a good rule for Silver Dollar Fish is to just give them a fibrous diet to prevent constipation from happening.
Bacterial Infection – Bacterial infections happen in aquarium fish when they are being kept in less than adequate conditions. You can prevent bacterial infections in your fish by simply making sure that the water they are kept in is clean.
There are no diseases that specifically affect Silver Dollar Fish. Most of them arise from improper care. The health, happiness, and longevity of these fish is largely dependent on how well they are cared for. It is important to establish regular tank cleanings and water changes as well as monitor their water parameters for any changes. Make sure that you are also quarantining new fish and plants before you introduce them to your aquarium to prevent contamination.
Tank Mates
Silver Dollar Fish are considered fairly gentle and docile fish to keep in your home aquarium, and many owners of Silver Dollar Fish have them in a community tank setup. Silver Dollar Fish like to spend most of their time at the top and bottom of the water column in the aquarium, and good tank mates for Silver Dollar Fish would be ones that stay mostly to the bottom of the aquarium. Plecos and Loaches are a great option as they spend most of their time scavenging the substrate for food. They will not get in the way of the Silver Dollar Fish.
Fish that should be avoided are fish that occupy the same column in the water as it will become too crowded and stress out your fish. You should also avoid fish that are smaller than the Silver Dollar Fish as it is possible that they could see these smaller fish as a meal. Bettas or Tetras for example are not a good choice to share space with Silver Dollar Fish.
Are Silver Dollar Fish Aggressive?
Silver Dollar Fish are considered semi-aggressive. This is because they will potentially go after any fish that are smaller than they are as a potential meal. They do great in an appropriately setup community tank as well as when they are paired with other fish that do not get in their way, compete for food, are territorial, or smaller than they are. As your Silver Dollar Fish mature, they can be paired with larger and more docile fish without problem.
Do Silver Dollar Fish Have Teeth?
Silver Dollar Fish have sharp little teeth in their mouths that have been known to cause serious bite injuries if they are forced to use them. They mainly use these teeth to eat, and are considered a fish that is perfectly safe to keep with others as long as their needs are being met.
How Many Silver Dollar Fish Should Be Kept Together?
Silver Dollar Fish are schooling fish that are happiest when kept together in a grouping of at least 6 or more fish. The important thing to keep in mind with Silver Dollar Fish is the size of the aquarium that they are being housed in. A grouping of 6 Silver Dollar Fish requires an aquarium that is at least 75 gallons. If you can give them more space they will enjoy that too.
Compatible and Incompatible Tank Mates for Silver Dollar Fish
Silver Dollar Fish are not compatible with all fish, but there are many fish that are compatible. Here are examples of common aquarium fish, along with their potential compatibility.
Silver Dollar Fish & Oscar Fish
A group of Silver Dollar Fish can be great tank mates for Oscar Fish as they can hold their own against an Oscar, and may even serve to make the Oscar Fish a little more docile. Both of these fish enjoy similar water parameters and aquarium needs.
Silver Dollar Fish & Angelfish
Silver Dollar Fish and Angelfish make for great tankmates. They both enjoy the same water parameters, and have roughly the same temperament. Angelfish and Silver Dollar Fish both will not bother fish of roughly the same size, and as an added bonus they look great together in a community tank.
Silver Dollar Fish & Goldfish
Silver Dollar Fish and Goldfish should not be kept together. They do not share the same water parameter requirements and attempting to keep them together could be harmful to both species of fish.
Silver Dollar Fish & Cichlids
Silver Dollar Fish are great tankmates for Cichlids. Not only do they share similar water parameters, but they enjoy similar tank requirements too. Angelfish are an example of a type of Cichlid that does well with Silver Dollar Fish.
Where Can I Find Silver Dollar Fish for Sale?
If you are looking to purchase Silver Dollar Fish for your home aquarium, you will be able to find them for sale online from breeders or at local pet stores. You can expect to pay around $7 for each Silver Dollar Fish. Keep in mind that they do best when kept in a grouping of at least 6.
Silver Dollar Fish Types
There are many different types of Silver Dollar Fish. Even though they are different in looks, their housing and dietary needs are still roughly the same.
Metynnis Altidorsalis
This type of Silver Dollar Fish has a greenish and reddish coloration to their bodies. This is the most distinguishable difference between this type of Silver Dollar Fish and other types.
Metynnis Argenteus (Silver Dollar)
This type of Silver Dollar Fish is distinguished between the others by its silver coloration and sometimes almost green or blue sheen to their bodies.
Metynnis Fasciatus (Tiger Silver Dollar)
This type of Silver Dollar Fish has distinctive black striping on its body giving it the appearance of a tiger’s markings, hence the common name of Tiger Silver Dollar. Not only do they have stripes, they also have a greenish hue to their bodies. These little beauties are more expensive to purchase at around $18 for a single fish.
Metynnis Guaporensis
This type of Silver Dollar Fish is larger, and more rounded looking in appearance compared to other types of Silver Dollar Fish. They maintain the same beautiful silvery sheen to their bodies.
Metynnis Hypsauchen (Stripped Silver Dollar)
Stripped Silver Dollar Fish are marked with more black stripes than the Tiger Silver Dollar Fish. The stripes on this type of Silver Dollar Fish are much more straight looking than the stripes on the Silver Dollar Fish.
Metynnis Lippincottianus (Spotted Silver Dollar)
The Spotted Silver Dollar Fish has small little black dots on its body. These spots are typically clustered in the middle of the body of the fish.
Metynnis Luna (Red-Spot Silver Dollar)
Red-Spot Silver Dollar Fish are a beautiful type of Silver Dollar Fish with very striking markings in comparison to the other types of Silver Dollar Fish. They have bright red bellies with golden spots dotting their sides.
Metynnis Maculatus (Speckled Silver Dollar)
This type of Silver Dollar Fish has many spots dotting the sides of its body. It has many more than the spotted Silver Dollar Fish, and there are many different sizes of spots.
Metynnis Mola
The Metynnis Mola is a type of Silver Dollar Fish that is identified by a red spot on its side and an accompanying spot of black right next to it. This color difference is really the only difference between this fish and the other types of Silver Dollar Fish.
Metynnis Otuquensis
This type of Silver Dollar Fish has a more greenish look to the coloration of its body, and thick black markings that look as though they are stripes made of dotting on the sides of the body of the fish. They also have reddish markings near their gills, their bellies, and some of their fins.
Myloplus Rubripinnis (Red Hook Silver Dollar)
This type of Silver Dollar Fish is identified by the redness of its anal fin. It is a bright red fin that is tipped in black. These fish usually cost around $15 for a single fish.
Myloplus Schomburgkii (Black Bar Silver Dollar)
Black Bar Silver Dollar fish are named this for the single, thick, black line that they have on either side of their bodies. Their bodies are still a beautiful silver color.
Mylossoma Duriventre (Hard Bellied Silver Dollar)
This type of Silver Dollar Fish is identified by its greenish hue to its coloration. It is not as flashy and silver as other species of Silver Dollar Fish, but they are not any less impressive. They maintain the same other requirements as other types of Silver Dollar Fish.
Silver Dollar Fish VS Piranha
Piranhas and Silver Dollar Fish both share similar water parameters and even diets. The main difference between these two fish besides their outward looks is the way that they behave when they are in a school. Piranhas are not the voracious eaters that they are often made out to be. They prefer to go after food that is slightly smaller than they are, and they will attack their prey as a group. Silver Dollar Fish do not group together to kill their prey. Both fish do, however, enjoy plant matter for food, and should be given plant matter in their diet to keep them happy and healthy.
It is illegal to own piranhas in some states, and you should make sure to look up your local laws before purchasing these fish for your home aquarium.
