Spotted Red-Cheek Silver Dollar (Metynnis maculatus)

Spotted Red-Cheek Silver Dollar (Metynnis maculatus) is a large, social South American characin with a deep silver body and spotted pattern. The Red-Cheek wording is a trade description used for this stock. The scientific name is the important identity anchor because several different Metynnis species are sold under the general Silver Dollar name.

This listing is Metynnis maculatus, not Metynnis hypsauchen. Use the live size selector for current supplied size, price and availability.

What you are buying

• UK trade name: Spotted Red-Cheek Silver Dollar
• Scientific name: Metynnis maculatus
• Other useful search name: Spotted Silver Dollar / Spotted Metynnis
• Adult size: up to around 18 cm total length
• Temperament: social and generally peaceful with appropriately sized companions
• Diet: strongly plant-based omnivore; natural records include fruit and plant material
• Best suited to: spacious mature aquariums with open swimming room

Aquarium size and group

Silver Dollars are shoaling fish and should not be planned as single ornaments. Keep a proper group, ideally six or more, in a long aquarium with generous swimming space. Our practical starting point is around 300 litres for a small group, with more space preferred for adults or a mixed large-fish community.

Leave a broad open midwater area and use wood, stone and robust planting around the edges. A secure lid is important because a startled Silver Dollar can move very quickly.

Water parameters

FishBase records M. maculatus from tropical South American waters with a broad temperature range of about 20–28°C and pH 6.0–7.2. In a home aquarium, aim for a stable mid-range rather than repeatedly moving between the extremes.

Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero. Keep nitrate controlled with strong biological filtration, sensible stocking and regular partial water changes. A large shoal creates a meaningful bioload, particularly when fed vegetables and bulky foods.

Feeding

Spotted Silver Dollars eat a substantial amount of plant material. Use good-quality herbivore or omnivore pellets and flakes, spirulina-based foods and suitable vegetables such as courgette, spinach or shelled peas. Fruit can be offered sparingly where appropriate, but it should not become a messy routine food.

Small amounts of suitable frozen or other protein foods can provide variety. The overall diet should remain plant-led rather than turning the fish into a heavy carnivore feeder.

Plants and aquascaping

Soft aquarium plants may be eaten. If you want greenery, use robust plants, floating cover and hardscape while accepting that individual fish may still browse leaves. Many keepers choose a wood-and-stone layout with open swimming space rather than trying to maintain a delicate planted aquascape.

Tank mates

Choose medium-to-large peaceful fish that share similar water conditions and are not small enough to be intimidated by a fast feeding shoal. Larger peaceful characins, suitable cichlids and robust catfish can work in a sufficiently large aquarium.

Avoid tiny fish, delicate shrimp, persistent fin-nippers and aggressive predators. Compatibility must be judged by adult size and behaviour, not simply by whether both species are labelled “community fish”.

Sexing and breeding

Sexing young fish from appearance alone can be unreliable. Mature males may develop stronger colour around the anal fin, while females can become fuller-bodied. This listing does not guarantee sex unless a specific option states it.

Metynnis maculatus is an egg-scattering species. Breeding requires a large, well-conditioned group and controlled water quality; adults should not be bought on the assumption that a random pair will form.

Before ordering

Choose Spotted Red-Cheek Silver Dollars if you have enough aquarium length for an adult shoal and you are comfortable with their plant-browsing diet. Reconsider if the aquarium is small, heavily planted with delicate species, or only has room for one or two fish.

Current supplied size, price and stock are shown by the live product options so commercial details do not become stale inside the care description.