Silver Dollar Acting Oddly

[plecopete]

I have 2 silver dollars, both are seven years old. Been together in this tank(55gal)since purchase as babies. They are now 4 inchers and just gorgeous. They are never apart. One, the smaller of the two is decked out, beautiful red fins, bright shiney silver and gold with large dots. Not a mark on him. I say him because I think he is a male. The other, bigger, more of a flat silver, no red on fins and very light dots. I think she is a female. I really don't know what sex either are though. Anyway, The "female" has, for the last 4 weeks been swimming around the tank almost like she's looking for something. Then she'll go to the top half way out of the water, bang the lid and gulp air. When she swims dow she lets all these big bubbles trail behind her. The male follows her and kinda shimmies around her. Are they trying to breed, ya think?Tankmates as follows, two 7yr old foot long plecos(awesome fish in thier own right), 2 clown loaches2-1/2 yrs old, a female rainbow(the male died after 6yrs), and 2 lemon tetra that are an amazing 7 yrs old(last of 6) Pics coming. Thanks

 

[vancouver]

Sounds interesting.. the swimming around like she's looking for something sounds like it could be feverish behavior that miiight be spawning.. but I've never heard of silver dollars spawning so I really don't know.

 

[plecopete]

Me either. Book says they lay eggs on broad leaves. put som in there, we'll see what she does. Looks kinda like a pattern she has. non stop day and night. Worries me considerably. Doesn't look like she's eating either. but, she doesnt look like it's affecting her. so shes probably eating i just haven't seen. How long does it take to lay the eggs? anybody?? My wife wonders if it knocked itself silly banging the glass. Every once in a while something or someone(visiting children) will bang the glass or something and all hell breaks loose. Haven't seen that in a long time though. Help!!

 

[vancouver]

They're pretty skittish.. even sometimes when I walk into the room my SDs go a little haywire..

Does sound weird though.. I really don't know what to say.

 

[Robfo]

Anyone got any ideas about this sort of behaviour? I've got a pair of silver dollars in a 46g and they are acting similarly to pete's. They've been in together for at least 3 years but i've never seen this behaviour before or anywhere near this level of violence towards each other. The problem is they are both looking well stressed and seem to be almost taking chunks out of each other now, its getting quite worrying. Anyone got any words of wisdom?

 

[plecopete]

Anyone got any ideas about this sort of behaviour? I've got a pair of silver dollars in a 46g and they are acting similarly to pete's. They've been in together for at least 3 years but i've never seen this behaviour before or anywhere near this level of violence towards each other. The problem is they are both looking well stressed and seem to be almost taking chunks out of each other now, its getting quite worrying. Anyone got any words of wisdom?

Hi Robfo,

I don't know how wise this is. But, be prepared to lose one or both of them. I just lost the female. It appears she became eggbound. Now the male has lost all his beautiful color and he is still. Man, I'm just sick about it. 7 years. I hope I don't lose him too. I feel like getting a few babies and put in there. Ya' think he'll school up with em'? I think I'm still gonna put up a couple pics. What the hell... Just gotta figure out how! Hey, Good Luck Man! Oh yhea, Got lotsa broad leaves in there?? Maybe she'll lay.

 

[Robfo]

Hmm great minds think alike....
Well in my wisdom i went and got 3 small silver dollars so the big ones would stop fighting and start schooling, this has'nt worked.The new fish are so much smaller than the adults that there seems to be no connection between them. In a quandry now about what to do with them. Good luck with yours aswell

 

[helterskelter]

I've got a breeding pair.

And you have sexed them correctly, mine are exactly the same.

The male when breeding sticks to the side of the female no matter what and bites at her fins.
they start to dart around and then dash around any plants or rocks and when the female releases the eggs you can clearly see the eggs at around 1-1.5mm in size

This photo is of the first eggs i got.