Photo: Sesamehoneytart, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Silver dollar
Metynnis hypsauchen
15 cm
Adult size
300 L
Minimum volume
5
Minimum group
12 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Metynnis
- Diet
- herbivore
- Social life
- shoal
In the wild
Overview
This silver dollar, a vegetarian cousin of the piranhas, is sold under the same name as Metynnis argenteus, almost identical in appearance and care; M. hypsauchen has a black spot a little above and behind each eye. Its powerful teeth can inflict serious bites.
- Scientific name
- Metynnis hypsauchen (Müller & Troschel, 1844)
- Classification
- Characiformes › Serrasalmidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Amazon and Paraguay basins and rivers of the northern Guiana Shield: Guyana, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives in densely vegetated tributaries.
Behaviour
Peaceful, it is kept in a group of at least five with other large, calm species, but much smaller fish may be eaten. It occupies the middle and top of the tank: large peaceful catfish (Loricariidae, Doradidae) complete the bottom well. It devours plants: plenty of vegetables (courgette, cucumber, peas, lettuce), spirulina and dry food.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth