Are Silver Dollars Aggresive?

[Talz]

I have been told by almost everyone in any lfs that silver dollars are aggresive and are very nippy, I personally have had a small group of silver dollars in my 77 gal community tank for a long time now and have never found them to be aggresive but acually very shy and peacfull esspecialy given how mutch bigger they are then the rest of my fish. However yesterday I was peacfully obbserving my tank when I noticed they seemed to be patrolling the tank and any fish they came into contact with was emediatly chased away, then they started to chase around one of my Bosemani rainbows... is this normall, are they accualy an aggresive fish and for some reason I never noticed before? They seem to have stopped doing it now for some reason... whats going on?

 

[vancouver]

I've never had problems with them.. I've got them in with cichlids larger and smaller then them. I could see them chasing rainbows away, but I'd be surprised if they actually attacked or did any damage to them.

 

[Talz]

I've never had problems with them.. I've got them in with cichlids larger and smaller then them. I could see them chasing rainbows away, but I'd be surprised if they actually attacked or did any damage to them.

I dont think they could catch the rainbows Im only worried they would catch one of my slower more delicate fish... like say my glass cats... now that I think about it is it such a great idea to have the two together?

 

[vancouver]

I really don't think you should have a problem with glass cats and SDs.... I've kept SDs with all sorts of fish, and have never seen them attack anything. I'd be surprised if you had problems.

 

[Talz]

Alright then thanks for all your help Vancouver (by the way Psyduck rocks!) If anyone else has something to say I would really like to hear it

 

[vancouver]

Yes, psyduck is the coolest pokemon ever..

Could the SDs be spawning maybe? Just a thought.

 

[F.O.H]

yes silver dollars are very nippy and i wouldnt say aggressive but territorial, when they get to a certain size they become very territorial, this happens in a smaller tanks mostly there always is the chance they will become very placid fish but unless you get a bigger tank with alot of open swimming space for them you will find they will be nippy and territoral. if you would like to know more please ask.

 

[Talz]

Yes, psyduck is the coolest pokemon ever..

Could the SDs be spawning maybe? Just a thought.

I dont think so... just to be sure what are the signs?

yes silver dollars are very nippy and i wouldnt say aggressive but territorial, when they get to a certain size they become very territorial, this happens in a smaller tanks mostly there always is the chance they will become very placid fish but unless you get a bigger tank with alot of open swimming space for them you will find they will be nippy and territoral. if you would like to know more please ask.

Here is a few questions for you then

Is a 77 gal to small for a group of 4 SD + other community fish?

Is 4 really enough?

Could their small numbers be contributing to this agression?

What type of fish should NOT be kept with them?

Do they really like acidic water or is that just not fact, if its false could my acidic water be aggrivating them?

Do you have silver dollars, if so in what size tank with what and water stats like temp p.H etc.

Do you generally recomend silver dollars?

Whew... sorry about asking so mutch but as you can probably tell silver dollars are just not really my strong point Are there any other tidbits of important or non important info you can think of to throw in? Thanks so mutch, in exchange for you assistance on this matter I offer you a flower you also get one Vancouver No one else dose though cause im not you know! (ok yes, that was just an excuse to finnaly use the very underused and underrated santa emoticon)

 

[vancouver]

I have 8 in a 75g tank with a parrot cichlid. SDs are about 2''.. parrot is about 3''... I once kept 2 SDs in a 55g with larger cichlids, keyholes, black skirt tetra, and a bunch of other tetras.. never caught them nipping anything even having only 2..

 

[Talz]

I have 8 in a 75g tank with a parrot cichlid. SDs are about 2''.. parrot is about 3''... I once kept 2 SDs in a 55g with larger cichlids, keyholes, black skirt tetra, and a bunch of other tetras.. never caught them nipping anything even having only 2..

So do or have they ever showed any aggresion atall, like chasing?

 

[vancouver]

I've never seen them chase anything or try to nip anything.

 

[david m.]

Alright then thanks for all your help Vancouver (by the way Psyduck rocks!) If anyone else has something to say I would really like to hear it

Hi. Sds are one of my favoirte tropical fish. While they are not as aggressive as some species, like larger cichlids, they are not the strict vegetarians they are reputed to be, either. Maybe a small neon or guppy could fall prey to them, but I think that's about it. They like to be kept in schools as they can be a nervous, scary fish in a large, long tank. They will also eat live plants you have in the tank as well, so it may be best to us plastic plants. Unfortunately, I don't have the room to make a tank for them right now so I settled for a one gallon betta tank and love it.

Let me know if you have nay other questions!

Cheers,

Dave Murphy

 

[Nickelback]

Silver Dollars are one of my favourite fish too they just have such personalities.So peaceful and gorgeous fish.I have two and they stick together like cat and mouse.I believe they can get shy to hate the water changes but I'm going to make mine happy and get two more as I'm paying off a 6 foot tank for my cichlids and splitting my 2x 4 foot tanks for the tropicals I think they will welcome their new friends They love lettuce when I boil it and cut it in to tiny pieces as a treat but I aggree with david m. they are not strictly vegetarians like their suppose to be because mine go absolutely crazy for bloodworm and I think my Silver Dollars are real pigs they get the most excited at feed time it is so funny to watch them fly around the tank for food I reckon if all fish were like Silver Dollars you would be very happy.Very peaceful and lovely fish