Spotted Silver Dollar questions-w/pics included

[balton777]

I'm growing out eight of these spotted SD's and trying to get a little info. I think they're Metynnis lippincottianus. Judging by the pics, have I indentified them correctly? Searching info, I've read that males develop red on their anal fin but all eight of mine have red on the anal fin. Is that the right way to sex them? It seems unlikely that I got all males but I guess it's possible. Lastly, their spots aren't very dark like the one I saw on fishbase. Is it because they need to mature a little more? Or should I be feeding them something different in their diet? They're only 2.5-3"TL atm. Any additional info would be appreciated as well, thanks.

 

[fishyjoe26]

yes they look like lippincottianus to me, they might be maculatus=speckled silver dollar. what fish do you have in the tank besides those fish, what are the water parmeters? if they are not showing dark spots they could be stressed,to young, or not getting the right food, what are you feeding them? also what are you going to do wants they out grow the tank they are in? they will get around 8 inches long.also PM bogwoodbruce he knows a little bit more about silver dollars then I do.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

I have a group of 5 adult spotted dollars the spotting on the females is much paler..... the males also have red on the body..... Heres a few pix of mine to help show you....
Biggest male

Female

Biggest female

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

yes they look like lippincottianus to me, they might be maculatus=speckled silver dollar. what fish do you have in the tank besides those fish, what are the water parmeters? if they are not showing dark spots they could be stressed,to young, or not getting the right food, what are you feeding them? also what are you going to do wants they out grow the tank they are in? they will get around 8 inches long.also PM bogwoodbruce he knows a little bit more about silver dollars then I do.

Its very rare to see a spotted dollar past 5"

 

[balton777]

yes they look like lippincottianus to me, they might be maculatus=speckled silver dollar. what fish do you have in the tank besides those fish, what are the water parmeters? if they are not showing dark spots they could be stressed,to young, or not getting the right food, what are you feeding them? also what are you going to do wants they out grow the tank they are in? they will get around 8 inches long.also PM bogwoodbruce he knows a little bit more about silver dollars then I do.

They're in a 265g tank with some cichlids but they're left alone for the most part. Are you sure they get 8"? Several websites say they max out at 4.5-5". Even at 8", I seriously doubt they'll outgrow the tank. Ph is 7.5 out of the tap and I only condition it with Prime. I feed them NLS 1mm and 3mm pellets, NLS flakes, Omega One flakes, brine shrimp, market shrimp, krill, fresh green leaf lettuce, fresh spinach, zuchini and Emerald Entree frozen cubes.

Thanks for the reply Joe. I guess I'll let them mature some more and hopefully they'll spot up a little darker.

Anyone know for sure how to sex these guys?

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

They're in a 265g tank with some cichlids but they're left alone for the most part. Are you sure they get 8"? Several websites say they max out at 4.5-5". Even at 8", I seriously doubt they'll outgrow the tank. Ph is 7.5 out of the tap and I only condition it with Prime. I feed them NLS 1mm and 3mm pellets, NLS flakes, Omega One flakes, brine shrimp, market shrimp, krill, fresh green leaf lettuce, fresh spinach, zuchini and Emerald Entree frozen cubes.

Thanks for the reply Joe. I guess I'll let them mature some more and hopefully they'll spot up a little darker.

Anyone know for sure how to sex these guys?

See my pix for sexing you can see the difference. The males are darker, more colourful and elongate fish.

The females much paler and deeperbodied.

 

[balton777]

Thanks boggy but I don't think mine and yours are the same species. Mine have a black line on the edge of the tail and dorsal and yours' are red. Also mine have a larger, darker black spot on each side of the body. I'll try to get some photos without the flash washing them out.

Mine look like this one on fishbase:

 

[fishyjoe26]

Its very rare to see a spotted dollar past 5"

what about rose-a-velts?

 

[fishyjoe26]

Thanks boggy but I don't think mine and yours are the same species. Mine have a black line on the edge of the tail and dorsal and yours' are red. Also mine have a larger, darker black spot on each side of the body. I'll try to get some photos without the flash washing them out.

Mine look like this one on fishbase:

um pacu, or piranaha? maybe I don't know. I've heard there are 25 different types of silver dollars but don't know if that is true or not.
you could always give the silver dollars to me if you don't want them.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Thanks boggy but I don't think mine and yours are the same species. Mine have a black line on the edge of the tail and dorsal and yours' are red. Also mine have a larger, darker black spot on each side of the body. I'll try to get some photos without the flash washing them out.

Mine look like this one on fishbase:

Thats a male in breeding dress