Blackberry Silver Dollar (Myloplus schomburgkii)

Common trade name: Blackberry Silver Dollar

Common Name

Blackberry Silver Dollar. Blackberry Disk Tetra

Origin and Habitat

This is a domesticated color form developed by breeders, so it does not occur in the wild. Care and behavior follow the wild Black Bar Silver Dollar, Myloplus schomburgkii, which is native to large river systems of South America, including parts of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Wild fish occupy broad channels, floodplain lakes, and quiet margins with steady warm water, submerged roots and wood, and seasonal access to fruiting trees.

Temperature and Water Conditions

Keep in warm, clean, well filtered water with good surface agitation. A practical temperature range is 24 to 28°C, which is 75 to 82°F. Reported pH tolerance for similar lines is about 6.0 to 7.5 with soft to moderate hardness. We do not recommend chasing or altering numbers except during special breeding projects. Stable conditions and very low nitrogen waste are far more important than exact values.

Appearance and Size

Adults show a deep bluish black wash across the flanks that shifts with the light, set off by bright to deep red fins. The overall effect is a glossy blackberry tone on the classic tall silver dollar disc with a small head and strong forked tail. Sexual differences are subtle and become most obvious when females are heavy with roe. In aquaria, adults can reach up to 45 cm, which is 18 inches if housed in an appropriately sized tank.

Diet in the Wild

The wild species is an omnivore with a strong herbivorous bias. It grazes soft plant matter, young leaves, fruits, and seeds, and opportunistically takes small invertebrates when available.

Feeding in Captivity

Offer a varied menu with a heavy plant component. Use spirulina flakes, quality vegetable wafers, soft blanched greens such as zucchini or spinach, and peas. Round out nutrition with small portions of pellets and occasional protein items like brine shrimp or daphnia. A greens forward diet supports color and helps reduce nibbling on ornamental plants.

Behavior and Tank Setup

Blackberry Silver Dollars are active, peaceful schooling fish that settle best in a group. Plan on a large footprint with open swimming space and a secure lid, since startled fish can jump. A tank 125 gallon or larger is appropriate for a proper school. Use smooth driftwood and rounded stones for cover. Most delicate plants will be eaten, but fast growing stems and tough epiphytes on wood may persist if you keep them well fed. Choose companions that are similarly sized, calm, and warm water tolerant, and avoid fin nippers.

Breeding

Home breeding of large silver dollars is uncommon and not well documented for this color form. By analogy with related species, spawning is an open water or vegetation scatter with adhesive eggs and no parental care. If you wish to attempt a project, use a very large, stable system with a comfortable school and simulate a rainy season with frequent, small, slightly cooler water changes while providing abundant vegetable foods. Add multiple spawning mops or a dense thicket of fine leaves to catch eggs before adults find them. Rock piles, coarse gravel pockets, and wood tangles create protected nooks that may help eggs and fry avoid attention long enough to hatch and begin feeding.

Quick Facts

• Scientific name: Myloplus schomburgkii “Blackberry”, selectively bred aquarium form
• Origin: Captive line; wild species from the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America
• Size: Up to 45 cm, which is 18 inches in aquaria
• Temperature: 24 to 28°C, which is 75 to 82°F
• pH: About 6.0 to 7.5 reported in husbandry guides, stability is more important than exact value
• Temperament: Peaceful, fast moving schooler
• Diet: Mostly herbivorous with some omnivory
• Breeding: Rare in home aquaria, presumed egg scatterer without parental care

Tropical Fish Co. Notes

Think of this fish as living stained glass. The blackberry glow and red fins look best against clean water, light sand, and a long tank with room to cruise. Keep them in a proper group, feed a salad bar menu, and shape the scape with wood and hardy greens. If you want to push for breeding, think big and steady. Provide seasonal cues, safe places for eggs to land, and take careful notes so the hobby can learn from your results.