Spotted Silver Dollar

Spotted Silver Dollar (Metynnis lippincottianus)

The Spotted Silver Dollar is a visually striking variant of the Silver Dollar family, flaunting an elegant, disc-shaped body that shimmers in metallic silver, embellished with distinctive black spots across their body and fins. They grow to an impressive size of 6-7 inches, making them a standout in any large aquarium setup.

These fish are social creatures and prefer the company of their own kind. Keeping them in schools of at least 5 is recommended to promote their natural behavior and help them feel secure. Their peaceful nature allows them to mix well with other non-aggressive species, yet smaller tankmates could potentially be at risk due to their size.

Spotted Silver Dollars primarily occupy the middle and top areas of the aquarium, so it is advisable to select tankmates that occupy the bottom to create a balanced distribution of fish within the tank. Larger, peaceful catfish species like plecos and doradids can be suitable choices. It's worth considering that Spotted Silver Dollars have strong jaws capable of biting, so this should be taken into account when selecting tankmates.

Spotted Silver Dollars are predominantly herbivorous and require a significant amount of vegetable matter in their diet. Commercial foods like algae wafers, spirulina, vegetable flakes, and pellets are recommended. Vegetables such as zucchini, cucumber, peas, and spring greens should also be included. They also appreciate a varied diet of frozen and live foods such as bloodworms. While Silver Dollars accept a wide range of aquarium foods, ensuring they receive their fair share is important, particularly when housed with more aggressive eaters such as Barbs and Tetras. Monitoring their feeding behavior is crucial to maintain their nutritional intake.

Spotted Silver Dollars require a spacious tank with plenty of swimming room. To replicate their natural habitat and minimize stress, incorporate rocks, plants, driftwood, and dark-colored substrate, as well as open swimming areas in the aquarium. However, it's important to note that all Silver Dollar species have a tendency to nibble on plants. Therefore, it is recommended to opt for hardy plants that can withstand their browsing behavior. Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus) and Anubias (Anubias spp.) are two hardy aquatic plants known for their resilience. Both have tough leaves that can withstand a certain degree of nibbling from Silver Dollars. However, no plant is completely Silver Dollar-proof, and these fish may still cause damage over time. These plants also provide the added benefit of being low-maintenance and able to thrive in a range of water conditions. Alternatively, artificial plants can be used as a suitable alternative. Providing dim lighting and areas of refuge will help boost their confidence.

A minimum tank size of 75 gallons is recommended, with larger tanks being more suitable for larger schools. The ideal water parameters are a pH of 6.0-7.5, hardness of 5-19 dGH, and a temperature of 74-82°F (23-28°C). It's important to ensure your aquarium has efficient filtration to maintain clean water, as Silver Dollars are sensitive to poor water conditions.

Note that Silver Dollars are known for their quick movements when startled, and a tight-fitting lid is recommended to prevent them from jumping out of the tank.