Tag Archives: Metynnis

Metynnis lippincottianus

31. July 2020

Silver Dollars, which are the piranha relatives that eat mainly vegetable food, usually grow quite large, most species grow to over 20 cm, some to 40-60 cm long. The smallest known species is Metynnis lippincottianus, of which we can offer sexually mature specimens. They are currently 8-12 cm long, more than 15 cm total length is not to be expected for this species.

Males and females of sexually mature animals can be easily distinguished by the shape and colouring of the anal fin. Metynnis species are free spawners without brood care.

M. lippincottianus differs from the similar, larger species M. maculatus by its more elongated body, M. maculatus is therefore more highbacked. M. lippincottianus is widespread in South America and occurs in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and French Guyana.

For our customers: the animals have code 267906 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Metynnis sp. Big Spots Peru

9. July 2020

From Peru we occasionally receive beautiful young Metynnis. We have not yet been able to identify them; they either belong to a scientifically undescribed species or represent a local form of M. maculatus. They certainly belong to the species cluster around Metynnis maculatus and we think that the final size, similar to M. maculatus, is around 20 cm. Conspicuously at the young animals, which are 4-6 cm long at present, are the particularly large spots at the body. They also have a deep red anal fin and a strong orange-red zone on the gill cover. The larger the animals become, the more points they develop. However, we have not yet had these fish larger than 8-10 cm with us, so we do not know what the final coloration looks like. 

It is absolutely necessary to keep these silver dollars in groups of at least eight – better more – specimens. They are lively swimming animals, which require a relatively large aquarium. Planting is usually not possible, as plants are generally seen by fish as a food supplement.

For our customers: the animals have code 268072 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Metynnis sp. Big Spots Peru

1. July 2020

From Peru we occasionally receive beautiful young Metynnis. We have not yet been able to identify them; they either belong to a scientifically undescribed species or represent a local form of M. maculatus. They certainly belong to the species cluster around Metynnis maculatus and we think that the final size, similar to M. maculatus, is around 20 cm. Conspicuously at the young animals, which are 4-6 cm long at present, are the particularly large spots at the body. They also have a deep red anal fin and a strong orange-red zone on the gill cover. The larger the animals become, the more points they develop. However, we have not yet had these fish larger than 8-10 cm with us, so we do not know what the final coloration looks like. 

It is absolutely necessary to keep these silver dollars in groups of at least eight – better more – specimens. They are lively swimming animals, which require a relatively large aquarium. Planting is usually not possible, as plants are generally seen by fish as a food supplement.

For our customers: the animals have code 268072 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Metynnis maculatus

19. November 2018

There are two rather similar species of the silver dollar genus Metynnis with a pattern of black spots. They differ mainly by the (externally not visible) number of the gill rakes and the number of scales along the long side of the body, but also somewhat in relation to the body shape. We currently call the somewhat more oval animals from Brazil M. lippincottianus (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/fischarchiv/metynnis_cf_lippincottianus_en/) and the more disc-shaped ones from the Orinoco entry M. maculatus; but it could also turn out in a scientific investigation that it is exactly the other way around.

Recently we received this very attractive M. maculatus from Colombia again. According to literature, the species becomes 18-20 cm long. Even if the herbivorous silver dollars are often characterized as “peaceful” against the “bloodthirsty” Piranhas: they are tetras and they can also quarrel. In the case of Metynnis, the animals often tatter the tail fin in the course of the ranking-fights. However, this is harmless and heals quickly again.

For our customers: the animals have code 268002 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer