Spotted metynnis
Metynnis maculatus
Also known as Spotted silver dollar, Spotted dollar, Maculatus silver dollar
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 7.1 in
- 18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 92 gal
- 350 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Serrasalmidae
- Origin
- Native to the Amazon and Paraguay river basins in South America.
Overview
This larger silver dollar needs a shoal of at least 5 and a big, tall tank with open swimming space. It is peaceful with medium and large tankmates but will eat live plants down to the stumps, so use hardy or artificial plants. Give it a secure lid and clean, warm water.
In the wild
Lives in slow rivers, backwaters, and flooded areas, often among submerged branches and plants. It forages through vegetation for leaves, fruit, and soft plant matter. It moves in shoals through the middle water.
Good to know
Metynnis maculatus is a disc shaped, silver relative of the piranhas that reaches around 18 cm, larger than most silver dollars. Its body is scattered with irregular dark spots and blotches. Despite the family, it is a dedicated plant eater.
Did you know
It is one of the bigger silver dollars, and a settled group of these round, coin bright fish moving together makes a striking display in a large tank.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Spotted metynnis 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.
Common pleco
Hypostomus plecostomus
Freshwater15.7 in (40 cm) · 85 gal (320 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Asian glass hatchetfish
Parachela oxygastroides
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Lemon-fin barb
Hypsibarbus wetmorei
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Leopard sailfin pleco
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
Freshwater18.9 in (48 cm) · 100 gal (380 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Giant river hatchetfish
Triportheus rotundatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Pinstripe damba cichlid
Paretroplus menarambo
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 95 gal (360 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Spotted metynnis need?
A Spotted metynnis needs at least 92 gal (350 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Spotted metynnis need?
A Spotted metynnis is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
How big does a Spotted metynnis get?
An adult Spotted metynnis reaches about 7.1 in (18 cm).
Does a Spotted metynnis need a group?
Yes. A Spotted metynnis is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
5.5 in (14 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Spotted silver dollar
Metynnis lippincottianus
5.5 in (14 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Banded silver dollar
Metynnis fasciatus
3.9 in (10 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)70 gal (265 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Redhook
Myloplus rubripinnis
9.8 in (25 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Wimple piranha
Catoprion mento
5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
15.7 in (40 cm)170 gal (645 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Disk tetra
Myloplus schomburgkii
15.7 in (40 cm) · 170 gal (645 L)
5.1 in (13 cm)46 gal (175 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Tiger pacu
Acnodon normani
5.1 in (13 cm) · 46 gal (175 L)