Metynnis hypsauchen

Common Names:

Silver Dollar
Silver Pacu

Synonyms:

Myletes hypsauchen

Family:

Characidae

Category:

Characins

Distribution:

America - South; South America.

Main Ecosystem:

River; River

Temperament:

Peaceful; Primarily peaceful but can be aroused to a state of aggression if attacked by fish like cichlids and other fin nippers. Despite the small mouth this fish does have excellent bite power. Scuffles do occassionally break out between males, and scales may fly, but rarely do the combatants persist to the point that any individual is debilitated. Much like their larger relative the pacu, silver dollars are often endlessly tolerant of aggressive cagemates, until the day comes when they just "snap", and fight with some conviction.Owners of small aggressive species of cichlid and acara housed with silver dollars should be aware that their patience for persecution has a limit, and when that limit is reached, a silver dollar can cause significant damage to other fish. This is a shoaling species that requires company of at least one other specimen, preferably of the opposite sex, but 6 or more specimens would be much better.

Diet:

Herbivore; Herbivore, although most specimens in community will occassionally avail themselves of some animal protien, livefoods,flakes and pellets not wholly intended for herbivores. If not supplied with a good balance of vegetable fare some specimens have been known to turn to fin nipping for those extra calories.Properly catered for however, this nipping behaviour rarely asserts itself. Will take a whole selection of blanched lettuces, peas, and common salad foods, commercial frozen formulas and flakes are also available. Should food recognition issues occur, simply offer them fresh foods and real nontoxic aquarium plants. Duckweed, and various water lettuces will be favourites. Dollars can be messy eaters, sometimes reducing even inedible plants to tiny pieces, a bit of a problem for those who enjoy pristine planted tanks.

Care:

Feed with plants and vegetable flakes. Needs a large tank. Make sure there are plants in the tank for the fish to feed on.

pH:

6 - 7.5

Temperature:

24°C - 28°C

75°F - 82°F

Hardness:

8 dH - 15 dH

Potential Size:

Male: 15cm (5.9")
Female: 15cm (5.9")

Water Region:

Middle; Middle

Activity:

Diurnal; Diurnal

Gender:

Male's anal fin has a small amount of red colouring.

Breeding:

Relatively easy to breed. The Silver Dollar usually breeds at dawn. Use broad-leaved floating plants. The females are very fertile with up to 2000 eggs being laid.

Variants:

Comments:

One of the most popular herbivores.

Main Colours:

Silver

Markings:

Not Specified

Mouth:

Normal

Tail:

Flat

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