adding smaller silver dollars to my tank

[Hardworkingwoman]

Hi,

I have two silver dollars about the size of a big quarter. My ACF is about 3 inches long from head to toe. There is one bigger silver dollar already in the tank. Are they to small to add yet? Do you think they are to fast to get caught by him? I am anxious to do it but don't want them to be his food.
Thank!!!

[mpmistr]

Hi,

I have two silver dollars about the size of a big quarter. My ACF is about 3 inches long from head to toe. There is one bigger silver dollar already in the tank. Are they to small to add yet? Do you think they are to fast to get caught by him? I am anxious to do it but don't want them to be his food.
Thank!!!

Silver Dollars are actually pretty big fish and grow up to 6". They're also a schooling fish which means you need to keep several of them. How big is this system? I would think a school of Silver Dollars would require at least 55 gallons, also an ACF is a rather messy animal and they need at least 10 gallons for themself, but really they need more in my opinion.

You also have to consider that Silver Dollar are tropical fish, they need temperatures around 75-77F and won't really do well around the temperate temperatures an ACF needs, which is around 70F (and vice versa, 75F+ is too warm for ACF).

[Hardworkingwoman]

Thank you for your answer! I know that the silver dollar is a tropical fish but it seems to be doing just fine in this tank.The temp is about 74 and the frog is very happy and healthy. What would you do in the summer when it is hot outside and the tank water is hotter than normal due to the outside temp? We used to put a fan on it to help keep it a lower temp.

What I am wondering is if you might know how long it takes for silver dollars to grow? Since they are in the 10 gallon tank will it take longer for them to grow?

[mpmistr]

Thank you for your answer! I know that the silver dollar is a tropical fish but it seems to be doing just fine in this tank.The temp is about 74 and the frog is very happy and healthy. What would you do in the summer when it is hot outside and the tank water is hotter than normal due to the outside temp? We used to put a fan on it to help keep it a lower temp.

What I am wondering is if you might know how long it takes for silver dollars to grow? Since they are in the 10 gallon tank will it take longer for them to grow?

I am not sure how fast silver dollars grow but in a 10 gallon tank they will die prematurely especially with a clawed frog in there (it won't do well either but is hardier than the fish). The bioload of these two animals is just too high.

A 10 gallon tank is barely suitable for one adult ACF alone. Also you have to keep in mind that silver dollars need to be kept in schools, they are 100% a schooling fish.

Honestly man I would keep the frog in the 10 gallon and move the silver dollar to a larger tank and get a few more silver dollars. They just won't survive together very long in a 10 gallon, it's just too small.

[Hardworkingwoman]

I think you misunderstood my question. The frog is in a 40 gallon tank with one silver dollar and a pleco. When I go the silver dollar I didn't realize that they should be in groups. So I got two more silver dollars that are just to small to put into the tank with the frog. I don't want him to eat them. So they are in the 10 gallon tank until they get big enough to put into the 40 gallon tank. I am looking into getting a bigger tank but this will have to do for now. So I have been thinking that I just might put the frog in the 10 gallon tank which is to small for him and put the fish in the big tank. I thought if they are in the big tank they might grow faster. The frog is and ACF and is about 2 1/2 inches from nose to vent. I don't think they are fast enough to escape the frog, I have seen him in action and is really quick to grab something. What would you do?

[mpmistr]

I think you misunderstood my question. The frog is in a 40 gallon tank with one silver dollar and a pleco. When I go the silver dollar I didn't realize that they should be in groups. So I got two more silver dollars that are just to small to put into the tank with the frog. I don't want him to eat them. So they are in the 10 gallon tank until they get big enough to put into the 40 gallon tank. I am looking into getting a bigger tank but this will have to do for now. So I have been thinking that I just might put the frog in the 10 gallon tank which is to small for him and put the fish in the big tank. I thought if they are in the big tank they might grow faster. The frog is and ACF and is about 2 1/2 inches from nose to vent. I don't think they are fast enough to escape the frog, I have seen him in action and is really quick to grab something. What would you do?

Ah, I did not realize there was another tank in play here. A 40 gallon tank is a pretty decent sized tank, still not enough volume for a school of silver dollars, a pleco, and a clawed frog though.

Hmm.. the clawed frog is fine in a 10 gallon especially if it's a male for a while. I keep a male in a 10 gallon right now and he is doing fine, I change out 50% of the water weekly, he has a filter and when he's large enough to not be eaten by my female frogs he is going to go in the 40 gallon tank I keep my 3 female ACF in.

Hard to say, honestly I'd keep frog and fish separate and maybe eventually get your frog a 20 gallon long which is a nice tank for ACF. If the silver dollar is the size of a quarter and the clawed frog is 3" he will most certainly eat it, Xenopus will eat anything that fits in its mouth.