How big do silver dollars REALLY get?

[tmlhaus]

I currently have 2 silver dollars. I've had them for about a month now. The one comes out to eat and swim once in a while but the other one just stays in the back corner. Well, now I understand that I should have 1 or 2 more. The problem is this: I only have a 55 gallon tank. So my question is exactly how big do they get and how long does it take for them to grow full size???
I am now seriously considering taking them back and trading them in for something smaller. I really like the size of them, but I had no idea that they could get much bigger than an angelfish. The tank is only 4 feet long and I just don't think it's fair for them to have to swim to a halt because of lack of space.
So I'm thinking if I trade them in I could get another angelfish or another school of tetras. (I'll be adding to my cardinal tetras when the lfs get them in).
Help??

 

[wrs]

i read 8 inches

 

[floridalove]

internet sources range from 5 to 8inches. from personal experience i had 3 fully grown in a 55 gallon and they were 6 inches each, it took about 12-13months to reach their length, then unfortunately they died from ich. some sources say they only need a minimum tank size of 20gal, but i dont know about that, probably 55-75 would be good cause they school. i heard that if you have 1 or 2 they are very shy but if you buy 1 or 2 more then they should be more active as they are schooling fish.

this is the site that says max 5inch and min 20gal tank(which i think is totally wrong, but hey this is the internet)
http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/characin...ilverdollar.htm

 

[silver]

If you are not sure, then I would take them back!!

Mine (2 yrs old) are 6" long and about 4.5" tall!! Yes, they do get quite a bit bigger than your average Angel, although they are rated at the same size MOL because Angels have those long fins, but body wise SDs get about 4 - 5 TIMES larger than Angels! . You seem like a very conciencious fish keeper and it would be sad to have one less GOOD SD keeper, but if you are a little uneasy about it maybe it would be best to just take them back

 

[tmlhaus]

Silver--you have FOUR of them in a 55 gallon?
How do they do in there??

 

[silver]

Well, let's see.......

They do seem to wish to have more space!! Only 2 of mine are that large, the other two are about 4 inches long and 3 inches tall!!

I suppose it was the mistake of my LFS and myself when I first got them! The lady helped me pick out fish that would be good in a 55 and she picked out 2 of those with me.....I didn't do any research though . I then decided to get 2 little babies to go with those two about 6 months later so now I have the 4.......the only other fish in their are 2 gouramis so the SDs really have most of the tank to themselves!! They seem to be just fine unless they get spooked and dart across the tank in .02 SECONDS!!!! This is when I usually feel bad for the larger ones!
In MHO they need a tank that is 5 ft long or longer when full grown, but I am just hoping mine don't grow too much more !!!

 

[CFC]

I find it strange that everyone says their SDs are so skittish, i have 6 in a 40g which im growing out for my larger tank and they arent skittish at all, they share the tank with some semi aggressive fish (what most people would class as aggressive) and happily compete for food to make sure they get their share, they even steal fish from the garfish if it doesnt swallow them down quick enough!!

BTW the fish are frozen white bait not live feeders.

 

[silver]

Hmmm, you know what CFC I just had a thought!!

Two of my SDs "appear" to males (or are they females ?) anyhow, they are quite a bit more aggressive in nature than the other two that I precieve to be females (or males ) ??) so in theory maybe you have more males in your group (or females) whichever are more aggressive!..........

Ya think? ...........

Also, I have found that wild caught SDs are a bit more on the skiddish side

 

[CFC]

As far as i can tell from what ive read the male SD has a brighter and larger red patch on the anal fin, which makes all mine males though i have yet to see a SD without the red patch so i am skeptical of how true this is.

I seem to remember you saying your SDs were two different species? If so it could be that the more aggressive ones are just that way by nature.

I believe mine are less skittish due to the tank set up, i have a dark substrate with lots of bogwood and tannin coloured peat enriched water with very low lighting, the tank is the closest thing i can get to the amazon without actually going there and stealing a bit I also constantly leave some green food in the tank for them to nibble on as and when they like.

 

[silver]

I am soooo jealous CFC! I would love for mine to be a bit more timid

Hmmmm, I think then that I do have 2 females (more skiddish) and 2 males (more aggressive)

I know that my two younger ones are the same species.....but the older two...now that's something different. One is very round, like a soda pop top, but about 2.5x that size, This one hardly has ANY red on the anal fin if ANY at all and she is the one I preceive to be the female and is the MOST skiddish out of all, but I believe she was either a return or was wild caught. The other one is longer than tall, bigger overall, a bit thicker which is strange I know because females are usually thicker so HE may just be a SHE or it could just be because he is bigger, but he has a tad bit of red to his anal fin and is more aggressive!! The two smaller ones are both redhooks which means they have the BRIGHT red anal fin, but the smaller of those two SDs anal fin has faded over time and is no longer red and that one is also the more timid of the two smaller ones! Wacko I tell'ya!!

I also have tried fairly hard to accomodate my SDs....
I have a large houseplant in front of "their" side of the tank which I don't have a light for thus it is never on and 3 fake plants and a medium sized piece of driftwood on that half as well....on the other end of the tank and throughout the middle I have a couple more fake plants (also had 3 live ones, but am down to HALF of ONE and NOT because of the SDs...because of the SNAILS ) also another piece of driftwood.
I also have "natural" colored smaller sized gravel!!!

I have been trying something new though. I moved a big old comfy chair right by my 55 SD tank and about 6 + times a day I go and sit there and watch and move slowly. My most skiddish SD is starting to calm a bit, but still HATES when my kids come barreling up I will keep this chair there from now on so they will be more use to my movements!