Metynnis silver dollars and planted tank?

[FJB]

I don't have the secret or claim to know any better.
But my silver dollars (Metynnis spp., 3 different species) don't eat my plants.

The tank is 75gallon, relatively heavily planted with several different species of plants:
3 Crypts (Cryptocorybe usteriana, C. affinis and C. sp.),
Java fern (Microsorum sp.)
Hygrophila sp.
Others I have grown in there, now removed for various reasons

Filtration - FX6 + AQ110
Lights - 48" 2 tube t-8 fluorescent
Water changes - 50-70% once per week
Tank established for ~2 years.
Feeding - Plant and animal based (seeds, legumes, insects, worms, algae). Fish eat most things thrown at them, but not planted plants, except duckweed which is cultured in another small tank, and added regularly for the fish delight.

 

[kno4te]

Nice job with the scape. Surprised the sd’s haven’t eaten it all.

 

[fishpets101]

nice! i would LOVE to do something like that. how long have you had the silver dollars in that tank?

 

[FJB]

2.5 years.
The fish themselves range from ~20 years old (3 M. maculatus), to probably 3-4 year olds (3 M. lippincotianus).
Unfortunately, the aquarium does not look as nice now, because with the high temperatures of summer, most of the Crypts have nearly all melted, despite heater being unplugged. Other plants contunue to do ok. Hopefully temperatures will come down soon.

 

[FJB]

Tank continues to do relatively well. Setup was in late 2017, converted to real plants in Jan 2018.
Currently 5 SD's - 3 24-year old Metynnis maculatus (2 male, one female), a single young female M. lippicontianus, a single female unidentified Metynnis. Late last year I removed to another tank 3 males (1 M. altidorsalis, 2 male M. lippicontianus), because they were harassing the females too much and too aggressively. One day I should be able to put them all together again in a larger tank.
Cheers!

 

[Deadeye]

Beautiful tank! It’s amazing that the silvers leave it all alone!

 

[Cich Mind]

Hello F FJB ,
You seem to know your SD's pretty well. Your tank looks very nice. I love that natural look. Nice! What I would like to know is what species of SD grows the smallest? I have a 90g and would like a smaller species of the SD's. If you have a common name that would be great too. Thanks in advance.

 

[tlindsey]

I believe you have maybe solved the plant eating issue normally for others with the food selection.

 

[FJB]

Hello F FJB ,
You seem to know your SD's pretty well. Your tank looks very nice. I love that natural look. Nice! What I would like to know is what species of SD grows the smallest? I have a 90g and would like a smaller species of the SD's. If you have a common name that would be great too. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the kind words. Much to learn still.
The SD that stays smallest is Metynnis lippincotianus, usually referred to as 'spotted silver dollar', although there are other 'spotted dollars in several different species. Also, too many times several incorrect common names are used, including 'red hooks' and others. True red hooks grow quite a bit larger, belong in a different genus, and are more expensive.
As adults, M. lippincotianus are easily recognizable for -
- Having the LARGEST SPOTS (of the spotted dollars), and
- In males a RED SPOT, together with BLACK SPOT past the operculum, are present. These are mostly evident in adult males (not visible in small juveniles, or in many females). Photos below show an adult male, then a juvenile female.
In aquaria, they max at about 4-4.5 inches (very rarely close to 5).

As small juveniles, several species look too similar for easy recognition.

 

[FJB]

I believe you have maybe solved the plant eating issue normally for others with the food selection.

Thanks, but perhaps just a little. I think it is a combination of what to feed them, and what plants to use. Some plants are just salad, others fare better.
Cryptocorine usteriana, C. wendtii - not eaten much
Java fern - not eaten much
Hygrophila sp. - Not eaten much
Bacopa monieri - Salad!
Swords - Salad!