Striped Silver Dollar

About

Found in the Capiuru River drainage of the middle Amazon basin, Metynnis fasciatus is one of the lesser-known members of the silver dollar group, and its relatively small adult size makes it a more manageable option than many of its relatives. Like other metynnis, the body is deep and laterally compressed, giving it that characteristic coin-shaped profile, and the species displays vertical banding that helps set it apart from the more uniformly silver members of the genus. In the wild it inhabits South American tropical freshwater systems typical of the broader Amazon drainage. Aquarium care sits somewhere in the intermediate range. Not because the fish is particularly delicate, but because it benefits from a well-considered setup. Being a schooling species, a group is far preferable to keeping individuals, and a tank of at least moderate size is needed to give them comfortable swimming room. As omnivores they accept a wide range of foods, though plant matter should feature regularly in their diet, and keepers should be aware that, like most silver dollars, they tend to make short work of live aquarium plants. A species worth seeking out for anyone already comfortable with the broader silver dollar family.