Silver Dollars: A Journey Into The Unknown...

[granthasfish]

I have a group of 3- 3.5"(d) Red Hook SD's. I am trying figure out the future bio-load of my 55 gallon tank when all of my fish are full grown. I have been trying to research their full grown size, but I have seen people quote 5-12". I NEED ANSWERS!

Also, i am wondering if there is any scientific reasoning to having more than 3. I always see people say you should get 4+ for a proper shoal or something. The other fish are a 7 inch Jack, a 6 inch Green Terror, and a 6 inch pleco. I got the SD's because I was told that they are an excellent dither or target fish... and they are! Once they all figured out how to be a team, my JD hasn't pestered them at all.

Anyways, I am trying to figure out if I should get more SD's, or maybe an Oscar... or something else (open to suggestions... i want to keep it south/central american)

Also, how big should a male JD get? 12" right?

 

[Ryan_R]

I've seen red hooks at about 8"... no idea how old they were, but very big. They're pretty fish, and very deep! If they're getting along OK, probably no reason to get more.

I don't think your 55 gallon tank can really handle any more fish... definitely not an oscar (BIG, dirty fish)... it's probably a little over stocked as it is. The pleco will grow quite a bit... our sailfin pleco, I think, is getting close to 12". It's not so much the bio-load as it is things bumping into each other.

-Ryan

 

[CFC]

Youre gonna need a bigger tank once those fish all start reaching full size, a 55 is about big enough for one of the cichlids and the pleco OR the silver dollars and thats about it.

Ive got a shoal of red hooks in my 900g, they average at 6-8" in size but i expect them to grow some more as they are still young fish and have large appetites.

JD's and GT's both reach about 12" when full grown and each fish will require the size of a 55 to itself as a territory.