TankBud

Disk tetra

Myloplus schomburgkii

Also known as Black-barred Myleus, Myleus schomburgkii, Black barred silver dollar, Black banded silver dollar

FreshwaterFish

Disk tetra (Myloplus schomburgkii)
Ltshears · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
15.7 in
40 cm
Minimum tank
170 gal
645 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Serrasalmidae
Origin
Venezuela, Peru, Brazil

Overview

The disk tetra is a big, active schooling fish for a very large tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The disk tetra eats a lot of fruit and seeds in the wild and passes many of those seeds intact. As the floodwaters move it around, it spreads riverbank plants and becomes part of how the forest along the river regrows.

Caring for the disk tetra

Keep disk tetras in a group, since they school for security. Their adult size calls for a huge tank of at least 170 gal (645 L), with steady flow and open swimming space. Use robust plants or decor that can take some grazing.

Keep the water soft and acidic to neutral, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Feed a plant-heavy diet of vegetables and prepared foods, plus some protein from insects or small crustaceans.

Disk tetras are peaceful swimmers that hold the middle and upper water, and they are safe with community tank mates. There is no real home breeding record for them.

Good to know

The disk tetra, Myloplus schomburgkii, is a member of the family Serrasalmidae, the same broad group as the pacus and piranhas. It is a plant-leaning omnivore with teeth suited to cutting plant material. It has a tall, disc-shaped body, silver sides and a bold black bar. It also goes by black-barred myleus and black barred silver dollar.

In the wild

Disk tetras live in rivers and seasonal floodplains of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, across Venezuela, Peru and Brazil. They use clear and blackwater stretches with moderate to strong current, around submerged wood and plants. The water there is soft and slightly acidic.

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Tank mates

The disk tetra is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a disk tetra need?

A disk tetra needs at least 170 gal (645 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a disk tetra need?

A disk tetra is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a disk tetra eat?

A disk tetra eats a plant-heavy diet of vegetables and prepared foods. Give it some protein too, such as insects or small crustaceans.

How big does a disk tetra get?

An adult disk tetra reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm).

Does a disk tetra need a group?

Yes. A disk tetra is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species