"everything" with Silver Dollars is a myth

[Lady Hobbs]

When you look for all the species that can be kept with cichlids, nine times out of 10 silver dollars are recommended. Mine were harassed to death by my blood parrots, angels and now the Firemouths are driving them nuts. Just because they are large and don't get killed doesn't mean they are happy in this environment. They are nervous and timid to began with and constantly being chased does nothing for them but make them more nervous.

I hoped to put them in a tank with a couple severums but now don't know as I want to try this, either. I just think they are happier in community tanks when nothing wants to be boss of the tank and they are not being chased about.

What do your silver dollars share a tank with and has it been successful?

[Fishguy2727]

For the same reasons I recommend people not use them as dithers with oscars (or use this type of dither with any fish) because it simply isn't fair to them.

Mine are in the 150. I have six spotted silver dollars. There are about 11 peacocks, a medium oscar, 3 jack dempseys (hopefully they will pair off), a 6" compressiceps, 20" tiretrack eel, 8" ornate bichir, 8" delhezi bichir, 2 jumbo Synodontis eupterus, 4 bristlenose plecos, and now 3 large pond goldfish. The only issue I have seen is that the tiretrack had left a bite mark on a couple of them a while ago, but nothing lately (I think he is filling up better on the floating pellets now). They learned quickly how to avoid the cichlids. I have also found that in tanks with many types of cichlids, the cichlids are more likely to pay attention to other cichlids and overlook non-cichlids.

[Lady Hobbs]

Thanks. I kinda feel bad for these guys and hope to get them their own tank soon so they can have some peace......and maybe a spawn.

[crackatinny]

My 4 have been with the Oscar and red devil now for about 8 months, and they don't go near them, the dollar's are about 5-6' though, and in a 120G.

[fraggle]

I have 2 in with my oscar, and there's no problems there (except that Okka eats the eggs when they spawn, which they have 2 times since I've had oscar) they are quite big though, about 4 inches, I want to get more, but won't do that til I get a much bigger tank, I'm pushing my limits at the moment, doing water changes every 2-3 days, just have to save for my GIANT tank, but I love them, but I agree, they do love it in a community tank too, but I haven't had any trouble with mine with Okka the oscar, they seem fine together

Do yours eat everyplant? Including all the ones they say they don't? Mine sure did, so all silk plants for me.

[Lady Hobbs]

I only tried java fern with them and onion plants. The onion plants survived but the the java was gone by morning. I always read they don't like java but you'd never have known it but the looks of that stub of a plant that was left.
:)

[jbeining75]

My friend has 3 silver dollars 5-6 inches in a 110 gallon with two 12 inches Oscars. He put giant danio in there and the Giant danio just zip around the tank. I'm suprised the Oscars haven't nailed them but the danios seem to calm the Oscars. The Oscars don't even mess with the Danio. I think they confuse them....lol

[fraggle]

I tried the java fern too, don't know who said they didn't like it! LOL

[Lady Hobbs]

They're doing better with the parrots but they are such a noisy fish, those dollars. They just have to go stick their head in the parrots cave and in their area and of course get pushed back out. One thing, the parrots can't hurt them any. Push them around, maybe, but not take a chunk out of them.

[fraggle]

Something else about them that is a myth I've found too is that they are vegetarian! I haven't had them eat other fish, but they LOVE the earthworms that I put in for the oscar, it looks do funny they swim around with these massive great worms hanging out their mouths. They do like the "lady and tramp" thing, one get one end and one get the other. lol

[Lady Hobbs]

Blood worms, too. I did give them a carrot tonight which they ignored. They love romane lettuce tho.

I can see them easily with Oscars. Oscars are slow moving and not mean and frantic swimmers.

[fraggle]

They do get along with the oscar really well, I haven't tried mine with carrot though, I given them zucchini and just normal iceberg lettuce.