How big do Roosivelti Silver Dollars get?

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TyKornblue

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2023
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Florida
I’m trying to figure out which type of silver dollars to get for my 150 gallon, and i just stumbled upon the rosivelti species…what is you guys experience with them and how big do they get?
 
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The name Metynnis roosevelti Eigenmann, 1915 is a junior synonym of Metynnis lippincotianus (Cope, 1870) (see FishBase; Ota, 2015). M. lippincotianus is perhaps the most commonly sold "spotted silver dollar" (there are other species of spotted SD), with both wild collected, and mass-bred specimens being commonly available.
However, in the aquarium hobby, a number of different species of Metynnis are sold as Metynnis roosevelti, including specimens of M. lippincotianus, and of several other valid species, both spotted and otherwise. The taxonomy of silver dollars of the genus Metynnis (and of several other genera) is far from fully clarified, but much progress has been made in the last years.
On the other hand, the taxonomy of silver dollars, as applied in the aquarium hobby business is a disaster!!!!, with all kinds of names being applied incorrectly (not necessarily on purpose). On top of that, all kinds of un-scrupulous people purposely use obscure, made-up, or known synonym names so they can sell fish as something different. I am not accusing your sources of any of the categories of error above, but it is rampant.

Metynnis lippincotianus remains relatively small, among the smaller of the commonly sold SDs in the hobby, commonly maxing at around 4.5-5" in total length. More commonly specimens remain around 4" in aquaria. As most silver dollars, they can live long lives if in good conditions, in the order of several decades.
Good luck with your SDs! If you end up getting them, please consider posting pictures here!!!!
Below 2 young male M. lippincotianus from my tanks (the ones you are considering acquiring may or not look like that, because they may or not be that species, and that is why I suggest posting images).

IMG_0856.jpg
 
My smallest adult is around 3in and largest maybe 5in.
 
I've had several. Maxed out around 5" in length. Able to hoover down monstrous amounts of plants in a very short time. They made short work of a thick and lush tank topping of water sprite in a 10' tank. I should have paid closer attention but it was a bummer when I realized what was happening. Flight instinct is very high and if anything happens to startle them they take of at 100mph w/ their hair on fire.
 
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