Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Peaceful

They are peaceful and somewhat timid fish despite their large, imposing appearance. They rely heavily on the security of their school and can become extremely stressed or easily frightened if kept alone or in small numbers. They are not aggressive but their nervous darting can stress out more sedate tank mates.

Diet

Herbivore

They are primarily herbivores and will enthusiastically consume almost all types of aquatic plants in an aquarium. Their diet should be rich in high-quality vegetable flakes, spirulina, and fresh greens like romaine lettuce or cucumber. Providing occasional meaty treats like bloodworms is acceptable but should not form the bulk of their meals.

Sex ratio

School

Sex ratio is generally not a significant concern for this schooling species outside of active breeding setups. It is more important to keep them in a sizable school of at least six individuals to reduce stress and skittishness. Males can be distinguished by a slightly longer anal fin tinged with red.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Silver Dollars should be fed two to three times a day in portions they can consume within a few minutes. Their fast metabolism and active nature require consistent caloric intake. Supplementing their diet with constantly available greens like blanched spinach helps satiate their constant grazing behavior.

Bioload

Medium to High

Silver Dollars produce a substantial bioload due to their large size and messy eating habits. They are schooling fish that require spacious aquariums, meaning the cumulative waste output is significant. Heavy filtration and regular, large water changes are necessary to prevent the accumulation of toxic compounds.

Flow

Strong

They are accustomed to the moderate currents of South American river basins and appreciate a decent water flow. A good current will encourage their natural schooling behavior and keep them active. Ensure the flow is not so strong that it exhausts them, providing calmer resting areas in the tank.

Jump risk

Yes

These fish are extremely skittish and prone to panicking, making them a very high jump risk. Any sudden movements or turning on bright lights can cause them to dart to the surface and jump. A tight-fitting, secure, and robust lid is absolutely mandatory for their safety.

Reproduction

Oviparous

They are egg scatterers and do not provide any parental care for their young. In a dedicated breeding tank, females will release thousands of eggs among fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop. The parents must be removed immediately after spawning to prevent them from eating the eggs.

Compatibility & tankmates

Highly aggressive

They are generally peaceful schooling fish that do well in large community setups. However, their size can be intimidating to very small tank mates, and they may occasionally nip at much smaller fish if underfed. Excellent companions include other large tetras, peaceful cichlids, and sizeable catfish.

Tank level

Top/Middle

Silver Dollars are highly active swimmers that primarily occupy the middle and upper levels of the water column. They need plenty of open swimming space to accommodate their size and active schooling behavior. They rarely venture to the bottom substrate unless searching for sunken food.