Is Silver Dollar the choice?

pohwalee

AC Members
Nov 14, 2006
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I am thinking about adding 4-5 medium size, tightly schooling,
not-too-fast-moving fishes into my 55G community tank. after doing some research, I think the Silver dollars may do it. However,
for those of you who have experience with Silver Dollars,
can you help me with the following questions:
1. Is it true that the Silver Dollars school VERY tightly together?
2. I suppose the Silver Dollars are not fast moving fishes like Rainbows, right?
3. I know eventually the SilverDollar will become too big and I will have to
take them to LFS, but before they get too big, would the
Silver Dollars eat up smaller tetras like Cardinals? Are they aggresive
toward smaller fishes?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Paul
 
is your tank planted?


lol, Good Question.

I have 3 Silver Dollars, they do school very tightly.
I think 3 would be max in a 55 gallon to be honest but they do like to school so 4 is preferable, with good food they grow VERY quickly as mine have. If you are upgrading soon to a 75 gallon I say go ahead and get 4, which would be better.
I love my Dollars, they get on well with all my tank I have Neon Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora.
They will devour a Romaine Lettuce leaf in seconds and enjoy it immensely, they also love zuccini and run off with Spirulina Discs.. Mine are great and they were so shabby when I got them torn fins, small. Now they are beautiful specimens..
Be careful you don't' buy the red hooks they get massive!!
Many people don't like them for various reasons, they eat plants down to the stalk, some people don't' find them particularly pretty.

They were one of the only choices for me for a larger fish for my 55 other than discus that would not eat my neons..
Good Luck let me know if you get them and how you like them.

Also they don't' really come up to the top for flake food but will eat shrimp pellets and bloodworms too. (even though they are vegetarian)
There's some pictures of mine here,
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94779
 
Also they are supposed to be really shy and known to jump out the tank, mine are not shy at all and dont' jump.. (touch wood)
 
Sounds perfect :dance2:
 
I love my silver dollars... they can be very flighty though. I lost one once during a water change, it just overstressed him having so much activity going on in the tank. I've heard of them being nervous if you walk up to the tank quickly but I've had mine for probably 3-4 years so he knows my commings and goings.
 
1. Is it true that the Silver Dollars school VERY tightly together?

Yes, they definitely like to hang out together. I don't know about VERY, but they do school together for sure!

2. I suppose the Silver Dollars are not fast moving fishes like Rainbows, right?

I actually have 5 Rainbows with my Silver dollars and the silver dollars are certainly capable of swimming just as fast if not faster then the rainbows. especially if they are spooked. the silver dollars def compete heavily for food. though when not chasing each other around/schooling, they can sometimes stay stationary in the water.

3. I know eventually the SilverDollar will become too big and I will have to
take them to LFS, but before they get too big, would the
Silver Dollars eat up smaller tetras like Cardinals? Are they aggresive
toward smaller fishes?

I have had zebra danios, bettas, etc with my large silver dollars. they have never even taken notice of smaller fish. they are excellent community fish.
 
Thank you all for your info on Silver Dollars. I think I most likely will
get 3 or 4 of them to hang out with my tetras and gouramis in my
little 55G fish paradise.
 
I'm sure you will love them don't forget to stock up in the veggie isle for them too :) FYI, I have to sink my Romaine and Zuccini they wont eat it off the top.
 
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