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PERCHES


SCATOPHAGIDAE FAMILY
The Scatophagidae, Scat, or Argus-fish family consists of the genus Scatophagus , and is distributed throughoutbrackish water and marine environments along the coasts of Asia, Australia, and Africa. The fry of this family pass througha sort of metamorphosis of having a large head and a body covered with bony plates.

Scat, Argusfish, Spotted Scat
[ Pictures ]
Scatophagus argus argus
SYN : Cacodoxusargus, Chaetodon argus, C. atromaculatus, Ephippus argus, Sargus maculatus, Scatophagus macronotus, S. ornatus
PD : A stocky, tall bodied fish with lateral compression and an arched back. Thefront part of the dorsal fin is low to the body and the caudal fin is fan-shaped. Both the head and the mouth are small. Thecoloration varies with age and slightly with distribution. Generally the flanks are yellow to brown witha greenish-yellow iridescence. The flanks are marked irregularly with black spots. The fins are body colored.
SIZE : To 12" (30 cm)
SS :Red Scat ( Scatophagusargus arromaculatus ) of fresh, brackish, and salt water habitatsin Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. The body coloring of the Red Scat is more red than that of the commonScat. This sub-species is sometimes sold under the synonym, S. rubifrons . The Silver Scat ( Scatophagus multifasciatus ) from coastalIndia to Tahiti. This species has a silver body color with a silver sheen in reflected light. TheSilver Scat reaches only 4.7" (12 cm) in length. The African Scat ( S. tetracanthus ) is a rare, but beautifulspecies from coastal East Africa. It has a base body color of yellow with seven black, transverse bands. This species reaches 16" (40 cm) innature, although usually reaches a maximum length of 12" (30 cm) in captivity.
HAB : Inhabits tropical brackish and salt water habitats of coastal areas in the Indianand Pacific Oceans. Found along the coast from India to Tahiti.
S: middle
TANK : A 36" (91 cm) or 35-45 gallon (132-170 L) tank is suitable for fish up to 6"(15 cm) in length. Larger fish require more spacious tanks. Use a fine gravel or preferably a coral sandbottom. Include hiding places among rocks and leave open swimming areas. This species is strongly herbivorousand consumes nearly any plants put in the tank. Thus Java Fern, which is poisonous, should not be used.
WATER : pH 7-8.5 (7.9), 12-30 dH (20), 68-86°F (20-30°C). Recommend a 1.5 to 3 % addition of salt. Add11-23 Tsp. of salt for every 10 gallons (15-30 g/10 L).
SB :A peaceful, but active schooling species that should be kept in groups of four or more. TheScat is a fine brackish or salt water community species as long as it is not combined with small fish.
SC : Monos, Puffers, Archers, Arius catfish
FOOD : A greedy eater that will accept nearly any food. Live; small fish, crustaceans, worms,insect larvae, aquatic insects; chopped meat; plant matter; vegetable; lettuce, spinach, peas; oatmeal; pellets;tablets; flakes.
SEX: Unknown
B : Unknown
BP : 10. Breeding has been unsuccessful.
R :The addition of salt gives the fish better health and coloration. Young Scats can be kept in fresh orbrackish water, but adults prefer salt water as they live mostly in the ocean. These fish consume great quantitiesof food, therefore regular water changes are essential. Scats undergo a metamorphosis while young. The young have large heads and sturdybony plates in the larvae stage. As they mature, their armored plating undergoes a change resulting in the familiar bodycladding of adult fish. The Scat is known for its habit of feeding on ocean sewage in its natural habitat, hencethe name Scatophagus (dung-eater).
DC : 6. This hardy species requires brackish water conditions.


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Recent news

Using fish as livestock feed threatens global fisheries

(11/18/2009) Fish doesn't just feed humans. Millions of tons of fish are fed every year to chickens, pigs, and even farmed fish even in the midst of rising concerns over fish stocks collapses around the world. Finding an alternative to fish as livestock feed would go a long way toward preventing the collapse of fish populations worldwide according to a new paper in Oryx.


ICCAT fails to protect critically endangered tuna—again

(11/15/2009) The International Commissions for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) ignored the advice of its scientists to end fishing of the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Instead ICAAT set a quota of 13,500 tons of fish. This is not the first time ICCAT has flouted its own researchers' advice: it has repeatedly set quotas well-above its researchers' recommendations.


Governments, public failing to save world's species

(11/04/2009) According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) 2008 report, released yesterday, 36 percent of the total species evaluated by the organization are threatened with extinction. If one adds the species classified as Near Threatened, the percentage jumps to 44 percent—nearly half.


Atlantic bluefin tuna should be banned internationally: ICCAT scientists

(10/29/2009) Scientists with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) have said in a new report that a global ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna fishing is justified. ICCAT meets in November to decide if they will follow their scientist's recommendations.


The Yangtze River may have lost another inhabitant: the Chinese paddlefish

(10/22/2009) In December of 2006 it was announced that the Yangtze River dolphin, commonly known as the baiji, had succumbed to extinction. The dolphin had survived on earth for 20 million years, but the species couldn't survive the combined onslaught of pollution, habitat loss, boat traffic, entanglement in fishing hooks, death from illegal electric fishing, and the construction of several massive dams. Now, another flagship species of the Yangtze River appears to have vanished.


Freshwater species worse off than land or marine

(10/15/2009) Scientists have announced that freshwater species are likely the most threatened on earth. Extinction rates for freshwater inhabitants are currently four to six times the rates for terrestrial and marine species. Yet, these figures have not lead to action on the ground.



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Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2009

The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me.