silver dollar info pls. opinions needed.

[terror]

Hi,

I'm planning to get 5 pcs silver dollars to put into the tank with my arowana and
green severums. I'm not sorried about the arowana , but i'm worried that the green severums might kill the silver doillars?
the severums are a pair.

but the tank is quite big.
its 8 ft x 2 ft x 3 ft . can i add the silver dollars?

[Roan Art]

Dunno much about severums, however if it's a size issue as to what they will eat/kill, then look for Red Hooks. You can tell Red Hooks from regular silver dollars as they have a large red anal fin that points posterior. They grow to 12+ inches.

Actually, someone just posted a link to a picture of a public aquarium that had Red Hooks, pacus and Oscars in the same tank:

http://photobucket.com/albums/f366/fishdude13021/?action=view&current=pacupic.jpg

You really should get six or more as they are schooling fish.

Regular dollars grow from 6-8", depending on the type you get.

Roan

[terror]

thanks!
problem is red hooks are much more expensive than ordinary silver dollars:)
but i'll see if i can afford red hooks:)

[Roan Art]

thanks!
problem is red hooks are much more expensive than ordinary silver dollars:)
but i'll see if i can afford red hooks:)
Yes, but they are much cooler and a better conversation piece, no? If I had the room et al in my son's tank I would have stocked Hooks instead of plain dollars. Heck with the price :D

Roan

[terror]

thanks!
can i mix ordinary and red hooks?
that way i won't have to get that much red hooks ?

[tanker]

thanks!
can i mix ordinary and red hooks?
that way i won't have to get that much red hooks ?

Should be no problem. Remember they need more plant mater in their diet then your other fishes.

[Roan Art]

I disagree. These are schooling fish and should be treated as we would any schooling fish, regardless of their size. They should be in groups of six or more with the same specie, not mixed.

Roan

[ado124]

i have a mixed bunch and the commons and red hooks school seperately but on some occasions they stick together!

[Roan Art]

i have a mixed bunch and the commons and red hooks school seperately but on some occasions they stick together!
They are only doing that because numbers = safety. The more that school together, the safer they are.

Roan

[terror]

thanks for the info.
btw how do you differentiate red hooks and silver dollars when about 3 inches?
i saw some being sold in a petshop some have red anal fin and the others don't could the ones with red anal fins be red hooks?

[tanker]

They are only doing that because numbers = safety. The more that school together, the safer they are.

Roan

This is true, but he has a 350gal tank. He can have a school of 6 of each.

My 100 gal is full of tetra and the different species do semi school, but rarely school with another species.

[Roan Art]

thanks for the info.
btw how do you differentiate red hooks and silver dollars when about 3 inches?
i saw some being sold in a petshop some have red anal fin and the others don't could the ones with red anal fins be red hooks?
Here's a great pictorial site. All that's missing is argentus, but he's got spots so it's not hard to pick him out:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/serrasalminae1.htm

You can see that Redhooks don't just have a red anal fin, they have a very long and hooked anal fin.

Roan

[Roan Art]

This is true, but he has a 350gal tank. He can have a school of 6 of each.

My 100 gal is full of tetra and the different species do semi school, but rarely school with another species.
Valid point. I forgot that his tank was so big. I'd love one that size :)

But. . . I would have to say that a HUMUNGOUS school of Redhooks would be MOST impressive :D

Roan

[tanker]

But. . . I would have to say that a HUMUNGOUS school of Redhooks would be MOST impressive :D

Roan

YEA!! A person after my heart!!

[Roan Art]

YEA!! A person after my heart!!
No kidding :)

My husband won't let me get anything larger than the 75gs. Grumble, but SOME DAY I want a 180g and a HUGE school of something huge. That's all I want. I'd like it planted, but you never know with herbivore fish.

Some day!

Roan