How big does Silver Dollar get?

Silver Dollar reaches an adult standard length of 12–15 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Silver Dollar need?

24–28 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–15 dGH. That is only 4 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.

What is the smallest tank for Silver Dollar?

At least 200 L, and no shorter than 100 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is a schooling fish: keep at least 5 together. Fewer than that and it hides, loses colour, and aggression has nowhere to spread.

What is Silver Dollar like to keep?

Temperament: peaceful. Difficulty: beginner. It occupies the middle and is herbivore. With plants it is "Eats plants".

G-01 / 42Freshwater

Silver Dollar银板

Metynnis hypsauchen · Serrasalmidae

A silver coin-shaped shoaler that is peaceful and will strip a planted tank bare.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 42 · Silver Dollar Metynnis hypsauchen

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 银板
Scientific name: Metynnis hypsauchen
Family: Serrasalmidae
Origin: Amazon basin, South America (Guyana, Brazil)
Adult size: 12–15 cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Herbivore
Water level: Middle
Level: Beginner
School size: ≥ 5
Min. tank: 200 L
Min. length: 100 cm
Plant safe: Eats plants

Water requirementsFreshwater

Temp.24–28 °C

pH6–7.5

Hardness2–15 dGH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Devours nearly every plant, so it belongs in a hardscape tank with rock and wood, not a planted one.
2Keep five or more; a lone fish hides in a corner and panics into the glass.
3At 15 cm it needs a tank over 100 cm; mainly herbivorous on flakes and blanched vegetables.
4Peaceful but large and greedy, so mix it with similar-sized fish that can compete for food.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Silver Dollar get?: Silver Dollar reaches an adult standard length of 12–15 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Silver Dollar need?: 24–28 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–15 dGH. That is only 4 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.
What is the smallest tank for Silver Dollar?: At least 200 L, and no shorter than 100 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is a schooling fish: keep at least 5 together. Fewer than that and it hides, loses colour, and aggression has nowhere to spread.
What is Silver Dollar like to keep?: Temperament: peaceful. Difficulty: beginner. It occupies the middle and is herbivore. With plants it is "Eats plants".