Individual Fish Description Page
This page will give a completely detailed profile of the
selected fish, from A to Z. The profiled fish will be
chosen randomly by Badman, and will come from the complete
genre of tropical fish. I will try to up-date the profile
on a monthly basis. If you have a specific fish you want
profiled please vote for it in the favorite fish poll on the main index page.
METYNNIS HYPSAUCHEN
Classification
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Sub-order: | Characoidei |
Super-Family:
|
Characidoidea
|
Family: |
Serrasalmidae
|
Genera: | Metynnis |
Common name
Silver dollar, Schreitmullers' Metynnis
Distribution
Widely distributed throughout South America, from Guyana to Paraguay, including the Amazon river basin.
General Body Form
Basically circular in shape, as long as tall, with very marked lateral compression. The front on profile of the back and stomach are not uniformly convex (out ) , but rather curve in at the Dorsal and Anal fin level. Like most members of the family (Piranha included!) they have tiny scales with small mouths and enlarged lips. The Caudal fin is slightly indented, the Adipose fin is long and short and in mature males the front part of the anal fin is crescent shaped. They can reach a size of five and one half inches, with the males smaller than the females.
Coloration
The entire body is basically a strong Silver/Grey, with a high iridescence, which is highlighted when the fish are in a large school. The back is slightly darker being Greenish/Grey or Greenish/Blue in color. The Anal fin has a pale tinge of Silver color in the front that fades toward the back. The Dorsal fin is clear with a series of small dark spots. In well cared for males, the Caudal fin and the Gill cover have a Reddish border. A narrow, dark vertical band runs through each eye. As with most fish there are color variations.
Maintenance
The Silver Dollars require a large tank, a standard 55 or 40 gallon would be fine. The tank should have no live plants as this species is mainly vegetarian in habit. The substrate should be dark in color with subdued lighting. They are schooling fish and will always be shy and skittish in a small tank, so give them as much room as possible. The diet should primarily include plant material, particularly Romaine Lettuce, along with the various live foods. Water quality is not critical and the temperature should be kept in the upper Seventies to low Eighties.
Breeding
In nature these fish spawn in shallow, sun drenched flooded areas of rivers. In the home aquarium they have been breed in clear aged water with a temperature between 81 and 90f. The eggs hatch in about four days and are free swimming a week later. If well fed they will grow very quickly.
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