Is It mean to down size a fish from a 30 gallon to a 10 gallon ?

Question

It's a single silver dollar fish in the 30 ..i would love the more space but also he only stays in a few parts of the tank...i don't wanna say trouble swimming but it is a big tank for just one fish...i guess i kinda feel bad if i did that too him...what do you think...and if i got a 10 gallon could i later add another silver dollar...I'm thinking on it but I'm also thinking against it...someone please help me :(

Answer 1

Dont downsize his tank..

Just because he doesnt swim around much doesnt mean he doesnt like it..

Get another one or two, and he will be fine, and your tank wont be so empty.  

Answer 2

Well can't you get him some freinds I mean he is a schooling fish and that 30 gallon is plenty of room get 4 more silver dollars and he should be fine also it is kind of cruel to down size a fish so just keep him in their with a few friends and you should be fine

Answer 3

10 gallons is too small for a silver dollar. Get two blood parrot cichlids. Or some blue gouramis?  

Answer 4

many very good answers. I just want to put the size of the silver dollar into perspective. When they are grown they will be the size of a small dinner plate just to give you and everyone else something visual to think of.

Answer 5

Silver dollars are schooling fish, which means they like to be in groups. I'd suggest an odd number like 3 for your 30 gallon. They grow quite large (4-6 in) and love to swim in schools. So, I'd suggest getting two more and keeping all 3 in the 30 gallon. You will notice him swimming a lot more once you get him friends. But make sure there are plenty of artificial plants for them to hide as they get easily startled by sudden movements outside the tank.  

Answer 6

No, that isn't mean.  It's just a fish.  I doubt you are going to need to take him to therapy sessions because you switched the tank on him. =)

Fish are pretty adaptive little critters.  They can deal with just about anything you throw at them.  Silver dollars are larger fish, and therefore are usually slower and don't swim around a whole lot anyway.  Pay attention to what parts of the tank he is in.  If he is staying where all the plants are, then it is likely that that is where he feels secure.  Sounds crazy, but if you don't have enough hiding places for a fish to go to, they will hide anywhere they can because they don't feel safe, but if you have lots of places for them to hide, they will swim more in the open areas of the tank because they feel they can hide if they need to.  If you make a 10 gallon tank, make sure you have places he can hide.  If you decide not to get a smaller tank, then at least get more fish.  Silver Dollars are a community fish and sometimes it can stress the fish if they are the only ones in the tank.  It won't kill it, but it couldn't hurt.  You'd be surprised how the presence of other fish can change his behavior.

Just a word of caution for ya... if you switch to a 10 gallon tank, you'll need to keep a closer eye on it than you would with a 30 gallon.  Surprisingly, 10 gallon tanks are harder to care for because A.) temperature can change a lot faster than a 30 gallon and B.) because their is less water, you'll have to do water changes more frequently because your water will build up nitrate levels a lot faster.

Answer 7

I wouldn't downsize.  Get him some friends.  ;)

Answer 8

Well .. silver dollar fish are schooling fish.  So really, it's mean to be keeping one all by itself in any size tank.  I'd suggest at least three.  Most likely your fish isn't very active because he doesn't have any buddies to swim with.  

Also, they can grow to a very large size in captivity and if cared for properly, they would eventually need more than a 30 gal tank.  As full grown adults, they're best suited to a 55 gal or larger.

Answer 9

its used to loads of space so if u move it it wont have any space and could give it quite a shock

Answer 10

Kimmy, most of the people here are bringing out good points.  Yes the Silver Dollar would be better with other Silver dollars, but even that 30 gallon is going to be too small to hold a group of them.  When a fish is a schooling type fish, the ideal amount you'd want is generally around 6 or 7 for security.  While three may work, in terms of schooling fish, you'll find optimal  results in higher numbers then that.  

Either way even with three, 30 gallons is just too small for these fish.  You have to realize that the Silver dollars might be small now and have space, but unless you want to play the tank juggeling game, you should get your tank based on the adult sizes of the fish, not the size you see now.  And using that idea, a 55 gallon tank would do you very well, with a larger then normal filter to cope with the bio load.

If one is to follow Masks logic, I suggest mask go live in his closet.  That's just the very point they are suggesting.  If you are of a mind set it's just a fish, which I have a feeling you are not, or you wouldn't be asking this question, then fish are not for you.  To compress a fish that reaches over 6 inches in size and put it in a 10 gallon tank is about the same effect of having a person live in a closet.  This isn't really about your question so much as your posted content.  It's definetly advice you can do without.