TankBud

Redhook

Myloplus rubripinnis

Also known as Silver dollar

FreshwaterFish

Redhook (Myloplus rubripinnis)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
70 gal
265 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Family
Serrasalmidae
Origin
South America

Overview

The redhook is a schooling fish for the middle of a large community tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Redhooks swallow seeds and spread them through the flooded forest, acting as part of the forest's natural planting cycle. Their flat, almost human-like crushing teeth mark them as a vegetarian cousin of the piranha, not a meat hunter.

Caring for the redhook

Keep redhooks in a group of at least five or six, in a large tank of at least 70 gal (265 L) with strong filtration. They are big, active swimmers, so the tank needs length and open room more than fine decor. They will shred soft plants, so use tough species or none.

Keep the water soft, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Feed mostly plant matter like blanched vegetables, spirulina and quality pellets, with only occasional protein.

Redhooks are peaceful despite their piranha-family ties. They swim in the middle and are skittish, so a group and a calm location keep them from crashing into the glass. Redhooks take their name from the red, hook-shaped front edge of the anal fin, which is brightest in mature males. There is no real captive breeding record for home tanks.

Good to know

The redhook, Myloplus rubripinnis, is a serrasalmid in the family Serrasalmidae. It is closely related to the pacus and to the other silver dollars, and it also goes by the name silver dollar.

In the wild

Redhooks come from South American rivers in the Amazon region. They range across open water and flooded areas, where they feed heavily on plants and fallen fruit. The water is soft and runs acidic to neutral.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The redhook 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 redhook need?

A redhook needs at least 70 gal (265 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a redhook need?

A redhook is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.

What does a redhook eat?

A redhook eats mostly plant matter, like blanched vegetables, spirulina and quality pellets. Give it protein only occasionally.

How big does a redhook get?

An adult redhook reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

Does a redhook need a group?

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

How can you tell a male redhook from a female?

Mature males show the brightest red on the hook-shaped front edge of the anal fin.

Related species