All my American Cichlids
- Thread starter Black Tuna
- Start date
Beautiful fish and amazing setup and level of accomplishment with your breeding them through generations.
I have a couple of questions about the silver dollars (SD's) you use as ditters. I find interesting that all your SDs seem to be a single species, Metynnis altidorsalis, and that most are of about the size size/age (both males and females). As I am sure you know, these fish are long lived, easily several decades. It is easy to explain why they are all Metynnis, since among SDs, Metynnis spp. are a lot cheaper and easy to find than other 'fancier' silver dollars in other genera.
However, it is less easy to explain why they are all M. altidorsalis, and not a mix of the 4 most common species in the hobby, all more or less referred to indiscriminately as 'regular silver dollars'. Perhaps (I am guessing) the reason for all being the same is that you probably bought a relatively large number of them all at the same time (several years ago)?... Otherwise it would be difficult to explain why they are a single species, when the other 3 spp are even more common (at shops): M. lippincotianus (spotted), and both M. hypsauchen and M. argenteus (both 'common' or 'regular' dollars).
Alternatively, it is possible that you may consider this particular species (M. altidorsalis) better for your setups for some reason? If so, what characteristic(s) makes them better for you? Or it is just by chance?
I am sorry not to be asking about your pride fish (your cichlids), and instead asking menial questions about the ditters. It just so happen I am more into SD's. Thanks and cheers!
I have a couple of questions about the silver dollars (SD's) you use as ditters. I find interesting that all your SDs seem to be a single species, Metynnis altidorsalis, and that most are of about the size size/age (both males and females). As I am sure you know, these fish are long lived, easily several decades. It is easy to explain why they are all Metynnis, since among SDs, Metynnis spp. are a lot cheaper and easy to find than other 'fancier' silver dollars in other genera.
However, it is less easy to explain why they are all M. altidorsalis, and not a mix of the 4 most common species in the hobby, all more or less referred to indiscriminately as 'regular silver dollars'. Perhaps (I am guessing) the reason for all being the same is that you probably bought a relatively large number of them all at the same time (several years ago)?... Otherwise it would be difficult to explain why they are a single species, when the other 3 spp are even more common (at shops): M. lippincotianus (spotted), and both M. hypsauchen and M. argenteus (both 'common' or 'regular' dollars).
Alternatively, it is possible that you may consider this particular species (M. altidorsalis) better for your setups for some reason? If so, what characteristic(s) makes them better for you? Or it is just by chance?
I am sorry not to be asking about your pride fish (your cichlids), and instead asking menial questions about the ditters. It just so happen I am more into SD's. Thanks and cheers!
I really appreciate your comments and first let me start off by saying you seem very knowledgeable about silver dollars. Unfortunately I am the complete opposite. I've acquired mine on 3 separate occasions over the past 7-8 years and yes, pricing played a role in my decision to get them. I have kept those spotted silver dollars in the past and they stayed smaller and did not do as well. The group I have currently have done excellent will all cichlids, even my umbee pair many years ago.
Thanks for your response. Yes, the spotted (lippincotianus) stay a bit smaller; interesting they did not not do as well for you.
I would love to get me a couple of adult female M. altidorsalis, but all I can find are tiny little ones that will take years to grow up. In the meantime, they are not useful to keep my males away from the single adult female I have.
Cheers!
I would love to get me a couple of adult female M. altidorsalis, but all I can find are tiny little ones that will take years to grow up. In the meantime, they are not useful to keep my males away from the single adult female I have.
Cheers!
Ever thought about closing the garage doors so that we don't see the neighbor's house? Love your tanks but your vids are reflection central
Appreciate the support and feedback. Garage closed w/ no tank lights on is too dark to see any fish. Tank lights on will see even more glare from tanks all around and I don't have lights for about half of the tanks in the fishroom. I could take weeks to do only one tank light on at a time but I don't get paid to do that lol.