Redhook Myleus

Natural Habitat:

They inhabit the tranquil blackwater or clearwater zones covered by dense jungle in the Amazon tributaries. They wait for the fall of fleshy fruits and seeds from the branches (such as *Hevea*, the rubber tree) acting as primary seed dispersers in the flooded forest.

The Dither Fish of Monsters:

While common Silver Dollars serve as Dither Fish for Oscars or small *Geophagus*, the *Redhook Myleus* covers this very important role for the largest and most impressive apex predators of South America. Often it is impossible to keep peaceful mid-water fish in a tank with huge *Boulengerella* or South American freshwater sharks without them being preyed upon. But the *Redhooks*, with their rigid silver disc armor, literally defy any attempt at swallowing, creating the ideal visual dynamism in a public or specialized tank.

Setup for "Monster Fish":

Do not be fooled by the similar appearance to Silver Dollars in stores. If you buy 5 cm (2-inch) juveniles for your 200-liter (55-gallon) tank, you will soon have a disaster. They grow over 25 cm (10 inches, the size of dinner plates). *Redhooks* need an uninterrupted flight path of at least 2 meters (6.5 feet, about 800 liters / 200 gallons). The tank must be protected: these animals have explosive muscles and fragile thin glass covers risk cracking if the entire school (weighing kilograms) crashes into them out of fright. Lamps should have simulated sunrise/sunset to avoid heart attacks from sudden switching on. As with *Metynnis*, any live plant will be considered free salad.

Management of the Frugivorous Diet:

Their mouth is a crusher for hard nuts and seeds of the flooded rainforest. Watching them destroy a half-whole raw zucchini is a spectacle. Rather than starving them with ordinary flakes that will float away in vain, throw chunks of fresh fruit, thawed peas, giant plecostomus wafers, and halved macadamia nuts into the tank.

Filtration:

There are no compromises: a large commercial 'Sump' or titanic dual canister filters for aquaculture. The organic load of a group defecating chewed fruit waste will cloud under-filtered tanks in 48 hours.