Pet Fish Care

Silver Dollar
mytnnis argenteus

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost:
The price I am going to tell you is for younger Silver Dollars, the price for more mature/larger specimens varies considerably. So with you understanding that the younger one are cheaper then you should be able to find young Silver Dollars for sale for about $4-7.

Short Bio:
The Silver Dollar is closely related to the Piranha but unlike its cousin is almost entirely a vegetarian. When young the Silver Dollar is quite timid so make sure the tank is place in an area where the outside world activities will not spook the young Silver Dollar. The roundness shape of the Silver Dollar give the it a strong presence in the fish tank. The Silver Dollar is a great addition to any tank that has other large, peaceful fish. The Silver Dollar can also be tankmates with some larger species of cichlids.

Origin:
South America in rivers where vegetation is found both above and below the water.

Sexual Distinctions:
To sex the Silver Dollar look at the anal fins. The male Silver Dollar will have a slightly larger, more colorful anal fin then the female.

Tank Conditions:
The minimum tank size dimensions for housing the Silver Dollar are as follows:
48 x 18 x 18 inches (120 x 45 x 45 cm).
The temperature should be in the range of 75-82 degrees Fahrenheit (24-28 Celsius). The Silver Dollar will adapt well to most water conditions.

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In the wild though the Silver Dollar is found in water that is acidic to neutral. There are no special needs that the Silver Dollar has as far as decorations in the tank goes, but it does like to have a few large hiding places under some rocks or bogwood. Like its cousin the Silver Dollar should be kept in groups of at least four or more. The Silver Dollar tends to occupy the middle and lower parts of the tank.

Food:
In the wild it feeds almost solely on vegetation and seeds, which its diet should reflect in the aquarium as well. Feed the Silver Dollars pellet foods, and for younger/smaller Silver Dollars who can not fit pellets into its mouth feed herbivorous flakes, algae wafers, lettuce, cucumber, and plant matter. Even though I named these foods off for smaller Silver Dollars you should feed all of this the the adults as well.

Behavior:
The Silver Dollar is very peaceful and active, but will eat almost all plant aquarium plants.

Breeding:
The Silver Dollar will breed in the aquarium but it needs a vary large aquarium and will also need soft water. When the male Silver Dollar is in spawning condition his colors will intensify greatly and various patterns will appear.

Here is a video of a school of Silver Dollars. There is one fish that isn’t a Silver Dollar that is focused on at one point and it’s the Tin Foil Barb. The Tin Foil Barb appears at 22 seconds, it also has much larger scales.

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Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra
gymnocorymbus ternetzi

For more information on Characins click here.

Cost:
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a common aquarium fish and its price remains pretty consistently between $2-4.

Short Bio:
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a fish that is very hardy and will be able to tolerate many different types of water conditions. When younger the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra has black bands and like to school. As it ages the black fades to a washed-out gray, and it prefers to have its own space and no longer likes to school. The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a very peaceful fish that will get along with almost all types of fish, but it will nip at long finned tankmates such as the guppy and the Betta a.k.a Siamese fight fish.

Origin:
South America in Paraguay and Guapore River Basins in the varied river environments.

Sexual Distinctions:
To tell the different sexes with the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra you must look at the dorsal and anal fins. The males will have a pointed and narrow dorsal fin and a broader anal fin then the females.

Tank Conditions:
A community tank with no fancy tailed/finned fish. It will nip the fins and tails.
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra requires a minimum tank size of 24 x 12 x 12 inches (60 x 30 x 30 cm).

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The temperature should be in the range of 68-79 degrees Fahrenheit (20-26 Celsius). The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra originates from soft-water areas and so prefers medium to soft, acidic water. Although it prefers this type of water it will however, adapt to, and live quite happily in harder water. To bring out the best of the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra have a darker substrate and shaded areas. The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra also likes areas that are planted with either real of fake vegetation. Even though at a younger age the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra will school tightly together and as it ages will prefer to have its own space but no matter the age you should house about four Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra together in any one tank. Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra will stay in the middle to upper part of the tank.

Food:
In the wild the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra eats small aquatic animals, seeds, and insect, and being omnivorous and opportunistic feed the Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra a variety of floating and sinking foods in the fish tank.

Behavior:
Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra is a peaceful fish that will school in groups with the males sparing every now and then but this is still normal behavior.

Breeding:
The Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra will breed in the aquarium. It just needs soft, acidic water with tannins from bogwood and or with blackwater which will all help to encourage breeding.

Here is a video of Black Widow Tetra a.k.a Black Skirt Tetra schooling together.

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