silver dollar

[lonerider]

I like the silver dollar but understand it's a "lawn mower" What plants do
these guys eat?? I have hornwart,water sprite,duckweed,java fern and some of
those wal-mart water lillies. Will my plants be safe ?? Just got my 55gal.
today and a silver dollar would sure look nice in there. I understand they
have a looong lifespan too.
Thanks,
Larry

[Paul]

lonerider wrote in message >...
>I like the silver dollar but understand it's a "lawn mower" What plants do
>these guys eat?? I have hornwart,water sprite,duckweed,java fern and some
of
>those wal-mart water lillies. Will my plants be safe ?? Just got my 55gal.
>today and a silver dollar would sure look nice in there. I understand they
>have a looong lifespan too.
>Thanks,
>Larry
>
do you know how big those cute little fish get?? they get to be about the
size of a large bread plate.. they look like little beasts too!!

[NetMax]

"Paul" > wrote in message
...
>
> lonerider wrote in message >...
> >I like the silver dollar but understand it's a "lawn mower" What
plants do
> >these guys eat?? I have hornwart,water sprite,duckweed,java fern and
some
> of
> >those wal-mart water lillies. Will my plants be safe ?? Just got my
55gal.
> >today and a silver dollar would sure look nice in there. I understand
they
> >have a looong lifespan too.
> >Thanks,
> >Larry
> >
> do you know how big those cute little fish get?? they get to be about
the
> size of a large bread plate.. they look like little beasts too!!

What plants a fish eats is imo, beyond anyone's ability to accurately
predict. I've seen fish which should eat plants raised in planted tanks
and leave them alone. I've seen fish which don't eat plants totally
demolish introduced plants. A lot has to do with the age they are
introduced to plants and their tank-mates (if they see other fish eat
plants, they will all try it, and the vegetarians will keep eating them).
Also destruction of plants can be territorial, line of sight clearing,
digging for spawning or out of boredom.

Having said that, Water sprite is salad, Duckweed & Hornwort are for
seriously veggie or really hungry fish and Java fern varies. You buy
Lilypads from Wal-mart ? (the roots might be chewed off). Anubius are
fairly safe, followed by (sometimes safe) Amazons, Onion plants and many
bog plants.

NetMax

[JazzyB]

It's true that SD's will eat plants, however, you could supplement their
diet with spirulina flakes. I believe that they won't eat Java Fern or hair
grass (sorry not sure of the latin name). I'm currently trying the java
fern today with my SD's.
"lonerider" > wrote in message
...
> I like the silver dollar but understand it's a "lawn mower" What plants do
> these guys eat?? I have hornwart,water sprite,duckweed,java fern and some
of
> those wal-mart water lillies. Will my plants be safe ?? Just got my 55gal.
> today and a silver dollar would sure look nice in there. I understand they
> have a looong lifespan too.
> Thanks,
> Larry
>
>

[lonerider]

.. You buy
> Lilypads from Wal-mart ? (the roots might be chewed off). Anubius are
> fairly safe, followed by (sometimes safe) Amazons, Onion plants and many
> bog plants.
>
> NetMax

Yup,water lilies and another type pf bulb from wal-mart. A co. called
sea-life packages them. They come about 6 to a bubble pack and you usually
get about 1/2 the pack to sprout. They grow fast, scarey fast !! Inches in a
day !!! The stems with the flowers break water and another stem is formed
till 3 or 4 flower stems form. when the flowers die off i cut the flower
stem. All the wal-mart bulb plants i have now are still doing well after 2
months. I have read they eventually need a dormant period because they are
bulbs and need a "season". Thanks for the info, i like silver dollars and
plan on buying a small one. I have found too that fish have personalities so
maybe the one i get will like flake food instead of my plants.

Larry

[JazzyB]

If you're buying silver dollars try to get at least 3-4 as they are a
schooling fish. I have 4 but would like to add at least 2 more for company.
Keep in mind that SD's are a very skittish fish, thus the more the merrier.
"lonerider" > wrote in message
...
>
> . You buy
> > Lilypads from Wal-mart ? (the roots might be chewed off). Anubius are
> > fairly safe, followed by (sometimes safe) Amazons, Onion plants and many
> > bog plants.
> >
> > NetMax
>
> Yup,water lilies and another type pf bulb from wal-mart. A co. called
> sea-life packages them. They come about 6 to a bubble pack and you usually
> get about 1/2 the pack to sprout. They grow fast, scarey fast !! Inches in
a
> day !!! The stems with the flowers break water and another stem is formed
> till 3 or 4 flower stems form. when the flowers die off i cut the flower
> stem. All the wal-mart bulb plants i have now are still doing well after
2
> months. I have read they eventually need a dormant period because they are
> bulbs and need a "season". Thanks for the info, i like silver dollars and
> plan on buying a small one. I have found too that fish have personalities
so
> maybe the one i get will like flake food instead of my plants.
>
> Larry
>
>
>