Silver dollars at Fish Story Aquarium and Rescue

[FJB]

Thank you. Teach me how you sexed it, if you will, please.

Of course - Pictures attached (some yours, some from others, some mine). This works for many species in several genera, but there is some variation. Specifically, males will have a BI-LOBED anal fin, females will have a straighter anal fin (although in some species it is somewhat curved), often with a longer, more colorful hook. In Myleus, Myloplus, Tometes, and similar genera, the females will have a longer, more colorful hook. In Metynnis, females will not have a hook (some exceptions such as M. hypsauchen, guaporensis and to some extent, M. fasciatus), but the anal fin will still be more colorful in all 16 spp.
Pictures in order -
Pic 1 - male metynnis
Pic 2 - 2 male Myloplus
Pic 3- female Myloplus
Pic 4 - Female Metynnis
Pic 5 - Male Metynnis
Pic 6 - Female Myloplus

I have been in awe of your great, humongous tanks and the troops of Silver Dollars (and other fish) you have.
Thanks for continuing to post! (and sorry when they die).
Cheers!

Pic 1 - male metynnis



Pic 2 - 2 male Myloplus



Pic 3- female Myloplus



Pic 4 - Female Metynnis



Pic 5 - Male Metynnis



Pic 6 - Female Myloplus

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Thank you so very much! I appreciate it. I hope I've edited your post labeling the photos correctly, as you intended. Check, please.

 

[FJB]

That's how it is done. Much more useful. Thanks!
By the way, the last two Metynnis (M. maculatus, pics 4 & 5), are ~20 years old.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

An accidental death. The 1800 gal lost one pump of the two and water got real low. Everyone survived ok except this red hook, looks female, she spazzed out and hit her head/nose too hard too many times.

9", ~5 years old

 

[FJB]

I am sorry to hear. A beautiful big fish. It is hard to take it when these things happen.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Three new common silver dollars join two others in a 240 gal. One has a badly bruised, swollen and bulging eye but in several days it has surprisingly quickly recovered.

 

[FJB]

Look forward to seeing your new dollars in more detail, to allow seeing what they actually are.
Remember, there is not really such thing as 'common silver dollars'. What people often refer to as 'common' or 'regular' silver dollars, are species in the genus Metynnis. At this time, there are ~14 known species of Metynnis, 5 of which are common in the hobby in the USA. But who knows what may appear here and there.... When you can, some photos or video.
I have adult specimens of 3 species, and just got a fourth, 4 young tiger dollars (M. fasciatus), still in quarantine.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Good to hear from the SD teacher of mine Thank you. I remain your faithful and appreciative pupil. Yes, I should have said Metynnis. By common, I meant, perhaps erroneously, that I am excluding all the "fancy" ones, non-Metynnis. I know, I profess to be all for knowledge but speak like an ignorant newbie

In the video I linked above, I filmed them in tank as well. They are the smallest three. The two they joined are significantly bigger. If it is hard to make out what they are in the video, I will take photos and post them. LMK, please. They are definitely not tiger. Faint spots on the dorsal side, just like most of them have.

 

[FJB]

Thanks for responding and quickly. I apologize that I did not watch the whole video before and thus, did not see the side views. Will need closer pictures but they look look like Metynnis altidorsalis, to be confirmed. Lucky you. I am looking for two females.
I am not SD teacher, as I am just learning myself. But I do have a thing for SDs and have been studying them . But you are the one with the amazing big tanks, big fish of all kinds, and the one many of us look up to. Thanks for what you do (must be your passion) and mostly thank you for sharing with everybody!

 

[The Masked Shadow]

I'm interested in how you get these fish? Do you rescue them from public aquariums, local fishkeepers, or do you buy them? How does one find you out?