Black Barred Metynnis (Myloplus schomburgkii)

The Black Barred Metynnis is a large, deep-bodied South American characin more accurately known today as the Black-Barred Myleus. It is a fast-swimming, shoaling fish with a bold dark vertical flank bar and a bright, metallic silver body, giving it a strong “silver dollar” look but with a more dramatic pattern. The scientific name Myleus schomburgkii is still widely used in the hobby, but the currently accepted name is Myloplus schomburgkii.

Common Name:
Black Barred Metynnis. It is also commonly known as the Black-Barred Myleus, Black-Barred Silver Dollar, Black-band Myleus, Disk Tetra, Disk Pacu and Black-ear Pacu.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Myloplus schomburgkii
Older synonym still commonly seen in the trade: Myleus schomburgkii.

Maximum Size:
Up to 40 cm in captivity and aquarium care references, making this a very substantial fish once mature.

Water Type:
Freshwater.

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Native to northern South America, with records across parts of the Amazon and upper Orinoco systems. It is associated with river habitats where fish move in groups and make use of calmer stretches with cover and overhanging vegetation.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 23–27°C
pH Range: 5.0–7.0
Hardness: soft water preferred, up to around 12 dH

Temperament:
Generally peaceful but powerful. Although not usually aggressive towards similarly sized tankmates, it is a large shoaling fish with strong jaws, and very small fish may eventually be at risk as it grows.

Diet:
Primarily herbivorous to omnivorous. A large part of the diet should be made up of vegetable matter such as greens and other plant-based foods, but it will also take frozen and meaty foods. Soft aquarium plants are very likely to be eaten.

Minimum Tank Size:
A practical long-term recommendation is at least 680 litres, with a tank around 6 feet in length strongly preferred for adults. Juveniles can start smaller, but they grow quickly and need substantial swimming space.

Behaviour & Activity:
This is an active, open-water schooling fish that should be kept in a group of at least 6. It is usually more settled and less nervous in larger groups, and it benefits from open swimming space with calmer areas to retreat into.

Aquarium Category:
Predator / Tank Buster
Best kept in a very large aquarium with other robust, similarly sized fish that can cope with a fast-moving shoal of large characins. Watch out for small fish being eaten as the group matures, heavy plant damage, and the fact that this species needs to be kept in numbers, which increases the space requirement dramatically. Even though it is not an outright aggressive predator, its adult size, speed, dentition and group requirement push it firmly beyond standard community-fish territory.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
This species does best in a quiet, mature aquarium with strong filtration, good oxygenation and plenty of open swimming room. It is best to avoid delicate aquascaping, as soft plants will usually be damaged or eaten. A calm location away from constant disturbance also helps, as younger fish can be surprisingly timid for such a large species.

Suitable for:
Experienced fishkeepers. Its eventual size, need for a proper shoal, appetite for plants and demand for a very large aquarium make it a specialist long-term commitment rather than a casual purchase.

Availability:
Occasional in trade. It is known in the hobby, but it is not a routine small-characin shop fish and is more commonly seen through specialist sellers of larger freshwater species.

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.