Breeding the silver dollar
A group spawner that needs a large tank; condition the fish, then use softer, more acidic water at about 28 °C. Eggs are scattered and fertilised as they are released; the parents do not normally eat them, but eggs are usually removed to raise. Fry take infusoria, then newly hatched brine shrimp and powdered food.
Step by step
Needs a school of 6+ in a large tank; ripe females swell with eggs.
Very large tank or pond with floating plants or mops, soft slightly acidic water and warm temperatures.
Rainy-season style water changes with soft, slightly cooler water and plenty of greens and protein.
Up to about 2000 eggs per spawning pair; eggs hatch in about 3 days.
Fry take powdered food and brine shrimp nauplii, then chopped greens; grow fast and need space.
- Tank too small
- Keeping too few fish
- No cover for the eggs
Male or female
The male's anal fin is longer and more colourful (often reddish) than the female's.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Use a separate small tank with a sponge filter and spawning mops, so the eggs aren't eaten.
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for egg scatterers
- 14 days beforeCondition the parents
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
- Day 0Spawning
Eggs are scattered over mops or fine plants, often at first light. Remove the parents straight after.
- Day 1Eggs hatch
Most eggs hatch in 1–2 days. Keep the tank dim and remove white (fungused) eggs.
- Day 4Free swimming, first food
Fry use up the yolk and start swimming. Feed infusoria or liquid fry food several times a day.
- Day 8Baby brine shrimp
Switch to newly hatched brine shrimp or microworms. Start small, daily water changes.
- Day 21Crushed flake
Add finely crushed flake. Sort fry by size so the big ones don't eat the small ones.
- Day 60Ready to move
Most small fish reach about 2 cm in 2–3 months and can join the main tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Feed live or frozen food twice a day. Keep males and females apart if you can.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.