Silver Dollar
Metynnis argenteus
Family: Serrasalmidae • Origin: South America
Silver Dollars are peaceful, disc-shaped schooling fish related to piranhas. They look incredible in groups but will eat every plant.
Min Tank
55 gal
Max Size
6"
Temperature
75-82°F
pH
6-7.5
Lifespan
10 years
School Size
5+
Swim Level
middle
Hardness
4-15 dGH
peacefulintermediateherbivoreschooling
Care Tips
- • Will eat ALL live plants
- • Keep in schools of 5+
- • Peaceful despite piranha family
- • Need large tank (55+ gal)
- • Skittish — can injure themselves on decor
Feeding: Vegetables, spirulina, plant-based pellets. Will destroy live plants.
Compatibility Notes: Peaceful despite size. Schooling fish — need 5+. Will eat every live plant.
Tank Setup & Water Parameters
Tank Requirements
- Minimum Tank Size
- 55 gallons
- Recommended Tank Size
- 75 gallons
- Swimming Level
- middle
- Minimum School Size
- 5+ fish
Water Parameters
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- pH Range
- 6–7.5
- Hardness (dGH)
- 4–15
- Water Type
- freshwater
Behavior & Temperament
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Aggression Level
- 1/5
- Schooling
- Yes
- Territorial
- No
- Fin Nipper
- No
- Predatory
- No
- Diet Type
- herbivore
- Growth Rate
- fast
Peaceful despite size. Schooling fish — need 5+. Will eat every live plant.
Breeding
- Breeding Type
- egg layer
- Breeding Difficulty
- difficult
- Lifespan
- 10 years
Ideal For
55 gallonlarge community
Compatible Tank Mates
View all →
Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
73-81°FpH 4.5-6.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+2"
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
73-84°FpH 5.5-75+ gal
peacefulschooling 8+0.8"
Rummy Nose Tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
75-84°FpH 5.5-720+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+2.5"
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
73-81°FpH 5.5-7.510+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+1.6"
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
72-82°FpH 6-7.520+ gal
semi-aggressiveschooling 6+1.75"
Black Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
70-82°FpH 6-7.515+ gal
peacefulschooling 5+3"
Similar Species
Siamese Algae Eater
Crossocheilus oblongus
75-82°FpH 6.5-7.530+ gal
peaceful6"
Freshwater Pipefish
Doryichthys martensii
77-82°FpH 7-840+ gal
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Empire Gudgeon
Hypseleotris compressa
72-82°FpH 6.5-7.520+ gal
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Denison Barb
Sahyadria denisonii
60-77°FpH 6.5-7.855+ gal
peacefulschooling 6+6"