wide bar silver dollar

Question

my wide bar silver dol   QUESTION: Hello I have an 8 inch wide bar silver dollar. I am just curios about how rare this fish is. when i bought this fish it was a steal the other wide bar silver dollars that were 30$ were about 3 fiches, and mine was 7 inches and the same price. Also if you know if this spices is more closely related too red hooks or common silver dollars. thanks

ANSWER: Hi Ben,

First off, the word "rare" is misused so much in the pet trade.  Rare means almost never seen, but where unusual fish are concerned, the correct word is "uncommon" when it's a fish you can get, but it's not commonly available.

Therefore, yes, your Bar Silver Dollar is an uncommon fish, not often available, however they can be obtained. :)

He is beautiful, by the ay.

They are related to other Characins, and to other Silver Dollars, both the Red Hook and the Common Silver Dollar.

Would you be offended if I brought to your attention that your water conditions look awful in the image?  Of course, images can be decieving, but if your water is truly that cloudy, you might want to take a look, as the fish would definitely be in harm's way if the water is in that condition.  It oculd mean his life.

He is a gorgeous fish!  You got a great deal and that size is typically $50 out here.

Happy fish-keeping.

Renee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


nutriafin waste contro   QUESTION: Hello, in my last question you said that my tank water was awful, it looked so bad because my firemouth had fungus so i had to take the filter out for a few days. however my tank is cleanest i don't want to do a big 100% cleaning of tank. so could i by a second marineland 200 power filter and a supplement waste control. would that work.

Answer
Hi Ben,

Please don't use that.  Instead, spotlessly change out the water til it's clean over the next two days.

The way the product works is worse in the long run.

When we add waste control to water, the chemical compound in it is almost the same as soap, but it's in a binding form.  

Cloudy water comes from floating things in the water that are miniscule, and so the chemical bonds those things into small pieces of debris, weighs them down, and they fall to the bottom of the tank.  When this happens, that debris is in your gravel!  It's rotting down there.  So many people buy these products not realizing that while they are cleaning up the "appearance" of the water, they are greatly harming the quality of the water down the line, because the water may look pretty, but the dirt's still in it.

I recommend 25% water changes til the water is clean, on a daily basis, maybe over the next five to seven days.

It should filter out any debris pretty good.

You will be a tired man, lol, but it will be worth it. :)

Now, about the Marineland filter...I love them, but I'm truly shocked you're just using one on your tank, and that it is as small as yours is.

I would buy the Marineland 350 and I'd run two on your tank.  The one you have is very under-rated for your tank's size.

If the filter generally says it's for 20 gallons, it "might" do 10.  They are sold with bogus ratings.  If it says it is a 20/40, it's always a 20.  If it says a 30/60, it's for a 30 and that's only if you don't have more than four fish...if you have more fish, add a second filter.

In your case, all the above apply.  This is absolutely not your fault.  This is the fault of a severely faulty rating system for filters.  

So, Ben, in a nutshell, my advice is to not only add another filter, but upgrade the model # you are using. :)  I run the 350s.  LOVE THEM.  Work like a charm.  

Happy fish-keeping.

Renee