Spotted metynnis

Care at a glance

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.

Related species

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  Spotted silver dollar

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• 

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• 

  Disk tetra

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• 

  Tiger pacu

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• 

  Red-bellied Piranha

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