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Perches
/ Scatophagidae / Scat
Scat, Argusfish, Spotted Scat
Scatophagus argus argus | Pictures
Synonyms: Cacodoxus
argus, Chaetodon argus, C. atromaculatus, Ephippus argus, Sargus maculatus, Scatophagus macronotus, S. ornatus
Physical description: A stocky, tall bodied fish with lateral compression and an arched back.
The
front 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.
The
coloration varies with age and slightly with distribution.
Generally the flanks are yellow to brown with
a greenish-yellow iridescence.
The flanks are marked irregularly with black spots.
The fins are body colored.
Size/Length: To 12" (30 cm)
Similar species:
Red Scat ( Scatophagus
argus arromaculatus) of fresh, brackish, and salt water habitats
in Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
The body coloring of the Red Scat is more red than that of the common
Scat.
This sub-species is sometimes sold under the synonym,
S. rubifrons.
The Silver Scat (
Scatophagus multifasciatus) from coastal
India to Tahiti.
This species has a silver body color with a silver sheen in reflected light.
The
Silver Scat reaches only 4.7" (12 cm) in length.
The African Scat (
S. tetracanthus) is a rare, but beautiful
species from coastal East Africa.
It has a base body color of yellow with seven black, transverse bands.
This species reaches 16" (40 cm) in
nature, although usually reaches a maximum length of 12" (30 cm) in captivity.
Habitat: Inhabits tropical brackish and salt water habitats of coastal areas in the Indian
and Pacific Oceans.
Found along the coast from India to Tahiti.
S: middle
Aquarium: 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 sand
bottom.
Include hiding places among rocks and leave open swimming areas.
This species is strongly herbivorous
and consumes nearly any plants put in the tank.
Thus Java Fern, which is poisonous, should not be used.
Water chemistry: 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.
Add
11-23 Tsp. of salt for every 10 gallons (15-30 g/10 L).
Social behavior:
A peaceful, but active schooling species that should be kept in groups of four or more.
The
Scat is a fine brackish or salt water community species as long as it is not combined with small fish.
Suggested companions: 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
Breeding techniques: Unknown
Breeding potential: 10.
Breeding has been unsuccessful.
Remarks:
The addition of salt gives the fish better health and coloration.
Young Scats can be kept in fresh or
brackish water, but adults prefer salt water as they live mostly in the ocean.
These fish consume great quantities
of food, therefore regular water changes are essential.
Scats undergo a metamorphosis while young.
The young have large heads and sturdy
bony plates in the larvae stage.
As they mature, their armored plating undergoes a change resulting in the familiar body
cladding of adult fish.
The Scat is known for its habit of feeding on ocean sewage in its natural habitat, hence
the name Scatophagus
(dung-eater).
Difficulty of care: 6.
This hardy species requires brackish water conditions.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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