jamreb12

hi i am new here and was hoping to get some help . I have recently moved my two silver dollars from a 30 gallon (U.K) tank to a 40g as they were getting big and i am planning to get them a couple chums , the new tank was cycled using filter and material from their old tank and i made the water/temp as close to old tank as poss . the dollars seem ok in new tank but they are not eating , normally they eat loads and are real piggies . they have only been in the new tank 24hrs so i am hoping they just need to settle in , is this correct or should i worry ? . they are in with 3 girl and 1 boy mollie who seem to like the tank as they had babies the first day i put them in ! anyone want some fry!

Llama

How are the parameters of the water in the new tank? Has it been through the cycle? How are the dollars breathing?

AlyeskaGirl

Hi! I have Silver Dollars too (2 are babies) and it's typical for them to not eat for a few days or more when they have been moved. I've moved my bigger dollar around a few times and he would not eat for a few days or more. Then all of a sudden he will eat. So just give them some time to settle in.

Just under curiosity what do you feed them? Mine loves small cichlid pellots, some veggie flakes and eats some frozen bloodworms.

Dozey

I have to agree with Christine on this one. In fact it is suggested that you do not feed a fish for at least 24 hours after it has been moved or stressed in any other way. In most cases they won’t eat anyways so the food just ends up decaying. In other cases if the fish do eat it will only add to their stress.

I know I have a really hard time eating when I’m really stressed.

agabr123

agreed i'd give them a day or two to settle in and then see how they are doing. double check your water parameters just in case though

jamreb12

thanks for the help i feel better now , they are my favourites and i was really worried about them . they seem a bit happier today . mine will eat just about anything really their favourite are the sinking waffers that I put in for the clown loaches! also like romain lettuice, shrimp brine, veggie flakes and bloodworms . ! i inherited these two from my sis (when she got pregnant she didnt think she would have time for them ) they are pretty big and must be getting on for 8 yrs old , is this a good age ? i am afraid until i got these guys i have only ever had guppies and mollies who seem pretty hardy , i just want to make sure i am doing the right thing for these them

aquarist48

I have 6 silver dollars in my tank. Wonderful fish. Calm and peaceful. They will adjust fine as long as your tank has cycled. Give them a day or two as stated above. Two of mine have been going through a spawning cycle. Too cool!!!! I haven't seen any eggs though. They can turn colors (some black appears) depending on their moods. The red can get very vibrant as well. Good luck!

AlyeskaGirl

Your welcome! I am glad to hear they are doing better! They are wonderful fish.

May I ask how big they are? That's so cool, 8 years! I think their lifespan is 10 yrs or more. By biggest one is about 2-3 yrs old, 5" long and about 4" tall and the two young ones I've only had for about 1.5 months! They are the size of a silver dollar coin, lol! They grow fast. One gets a pellot and the other trys to steel it, lol! Very entertaining!

GypsyGirl71

I have 4 silver dollars, about 3 months old. They have really grown fast, 2 are probably 3 1/2 or 4 inches long. They smallest was picked on by serpae tetra (now removed from the tank) I thought they had killed him, he had almost no tailfin left, but now he is as healthy and happy as the rest. Mine will eat anything I put in the tank: flakes, pellets, algae wafer, bloodworms, tubifex worms, romaine lettuce! I hope they live as long as yours has, jamreb!

jamreb12

my biggest is about 6" long the other is slightly smaller. I thought i would add a couple friends when they have calmed down a bit as i read they like to be in a group and i have seen a huge tank of 10 or so at my LFS and they look soooo cool when they are swimming about together . by the sounds of it mine go through a spawning cycle as i have noticed different colours mainly on the big ones fins and the smaller one gets a dark spot behind her gills , in my ignorance i thought they were not feeling well ! i have not noticed eggs but will now look out for them . Much excitment !!!