silver Dollar

The Silver Dollar or Silver Metinnis, scientific name Metynnis argenteus, belongs to the Serrasalmidae family (Piranidae). The name of the fish comes from North America, where it is widespread among aquarists. In the 19th century, a silver $1 coin was in use in the United States, and young fish, due to their rounded and flattened body shape, can really resemble this coin. Silver coloring only added to the similarity.

Currently, this species is supplied to all markets and is popular in many countries due to its peaceful disposition and unpretentiousness, as well as its unusual body shape and catchy name.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 300 liters.
• Temperature – 24-28°C
• Value pH — 6.0–7.0
• Water hardness – soft (up to 10 dH)
• Substrate type – any
• Lighting – subdued
• Brackish water – no
• Water movement – light or moderate
• The size of the fish is 15–18 cm.
• Nutrition – foods with a high content of plant components
• Temperament – peaceful
• Keeping in a group of 4-5 individuals

Habitat

The fish inhabits the Amazon River basin (South America) on the territory of modern Paraguay and Brazil. They live in groups in densely overgrown reservoirs, prefer mainly plant foods, but can also eat small worms and insects.

Description

Silver Metinnis is a large fish with a disc-shaped body strongly compressed laterally. The coloration is silvery, sometimes with a greenish tint in certain lighting, a red color appears on the anal fin. They have small dots, specks on the sides.

Food

The basis of the diet is feed with a high content of plant components. It is desirable to serve specialized food in the form of flakes or granules. As a supplement, you can serve protein products (bloodworm, brine shrimp, etc.). On occasion, it is able to feast on smaller fish, fry.

Maintenance and care

A spacious aquarium is needed, with rich vegetation, but it should be located along the walls of the aquarium to leave enough space for swimming. Plants should be used artificial or live fast-growing. The soil is sandy with various low decorative elements: pieces of wood, roots, driftwood.

The Silver Dollar needs high quality water, so a high-performance filter guarantees successful keeping. The heater is recommended from unbreakable materials, the fish is very active and is able to accidentally break glassware or rip them off. Take care of the secure fastening of underwater equipment.

Social behavior

Peaceful and active fish, but should not be kept together with smaller species, they will be attacked, and very small neighbors will quickly become prey. Keeping a flock of at least 4 individuals.

Breeding / breeding

One of the few characin species that does not eat its own offspring, so a separate tank is not required for breeding, provided that there are no other fish species in the aquarium. The stimulus for the beginning of spawning is the establishment of temperature within the range of 26–28°C and water parameters: pH 6.0–7.0 and hardness not lower than 10dH. Immerse several floating plants into the aquarium, if they were not there before, spawning will occur in these clusters. The female lays up to 2000 eggs, which fall to the bottom, and fry appear from them after 3 days. They rush to the surface and will live there until they grow up, thickets of floating plants will become a protection if suddenly the parents decide to feast on them. Feed microfeed.

Diseases

Silver Metinnis is very hardy and generally does not experience health problems if the water quality is adequate. Read more about symptoms and treatments in the Aquarium Fish Diseases section.