Spotted silver dollar
Metynnis lippincottianus
Also known as Speckled silver dollar, Lippincott's silver dollar, Speckled metynnis
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 5.5 in
- 14 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Schooling
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Serrasalmidae
- Origin
- Native to the Amazon basin and rivers of the Guianas in northern South America.
Overview
The spotted silver dollar is a peaceful schooling fish for a large community tank without live plants. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
Spotted silver dollars are cousins of the piranha, but they are dedicated plant eaters. They can demolish an aquascape in a night.
Caring for the spotted silver dollar
Give spotted silver dollars a tall, roomy tank of at least 53 gal (200 L), with open swimming space and a secure lid. Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C), with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5.
Spotted silver dollars are almost entirely vegetarian, and they will strip live plants down to the stems. Plan on plastic or very tough plants instead.
They are nervous unless kept in a shoal of at least five, and a larger group settles them noticeably. They are peaceful and get along with most medium sized community fish. Breeding them is hard.
Good to know
The spotted silver dollar, Metynnis lippincottianus, belongs to the family Serrasalmidae. Its disc-shaped, silver body is scattered with small dark spots, and it shows a faint bar behind the gill cover.
In the wild
The spotted silver dollar comes from the Amazon basin and the rivers of the Guianas in northern South America. It lives in slow stretches of rivers and in floodplain lakes, often among submerged branches and marginal plants. Shoals move through the middle water and forage in flooded vegetation for leaves, fruit and soft plant matter.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The spotted silver dollar 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.
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Bolivian ram
Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Yoyo loach
Botia almorhae
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Decorated squeaker
Synodontis decorus
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Celebes halfbeak
Nomorhamphus liemi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Red lizard whiptail
Rineloricaria lanceolata
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a spotted silver dollar need?
A spotted silver dollar needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a spotted silver dollar need?
A spotted silver dollar is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
What does a spotted silver dollar eat?
A spotted silver dollar is almost entirely vegetarian. In a tank it will strip live plants down to the stems.
How big does a spotted silver dollar get?
An adult spotted silver dollar reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).
Does a spotted silver dollar need a group?
Yes. A spotted silver dollar is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.
Related species
7.1 in (18 cm)92 gal (350 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Spotted metynnis
Metynnis maculatus
7.1 in (18 cm) · 92 gal (350 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)