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Spotted Scat

Red Scat ~ Green Scat ~ Argusfish

Family: ScatophagidaeScatophagus argusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Ken Childs

   The Spotted Scat is one of the most popular brackish water fish available, and it is an extremely attractive fish!

   With two color versions of the Spotted Scat, the Red Scat and the Green Scat, this fish has a lot to offer. The Green Scat is the type most commonly seen. The red subspecies, Scatophagus argus arromaculatus, is generally more expensive but is well worth searching out.

   If they are handled correctly, the Spotted Scats are a fish that is equally at home in freshwater or saltwater or anywhere in between. Their lives are usually spent in the mouths of rivers where the salinity of the water is constantly changing. Although they will do great in a saltwater aquarium, they are not usually considered for this use because their colors are not bright enough. The genus name of Scatophagus means ‘excrement eater' and is used because of their habit of living near floating toilets in Southeast Asia and eating anything that shows up. It's fortunate that this type of ‘food' is not necessary to keep them in good condition!

   Be very careful when handling scats. The spines on their fins are mildly venomous and it hurts if you are unlucky enough to get stuck by one!

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:    The Spotted Scat was described by Linnaeus in 1766. The species has a very large distribution, they are common throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Most seen for sale have been collected in or near Thailand. The Red Scat which is considered a subspecies, Scatophagus argus arromaculatus, is found only in Sri Lanka, New Guinea, and Australia.
   Other names this fish is commonly known by are Common scat, Butterfish, Spotted Butterfish, Argus fish, and Butter Fish.

Status:    The Spotted Scat is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:    The Spotted Scat has a strongly compress, squarish body with a steeply slanted profile to the head. The body coloration of the Green Scat is a shiny silver with a light greenish cast. The Red Scat is similar but with a reddish cast to it that is especially notable dorsally along its back and on the fins. True to its name, there are black spots all across its body, extending onto the fins. In mature adults the spots can be faded, often only visible on the upper parts of its sides and back.

Size - Weight:    These fish can reach up to 15 inches (38 cm).

Care and feeding:    The Spotted Scats are omnivores. Feeding is no problem since they will eat virtually anything considered as aquarium fish food. As with any fish, a varied diet is important so be sure to feed dried, frozen and fresh foods. Flakes or pellets that contain algae and vegetable matter are also suggested.
  The Spotted Scat can get quite large so a tank of at least 60 gallons should be provided to begin with. If you do a good job and keep one in good shape, a larger tank will be eventually needed. A 15 inch fish is large but when it is shaped like a scat, it's really large! Just imagine a dinner plate with fins and you'll get the idea. Odds are that a tank raised specimen will never grow to full size, but even a salad plate with fins is big. Although some advanced aquarists are able to keep scats in freshwater, they really do better if kept in full saltwater or brackish water made with a good marine saltwater mix, approximately 2 - 3 teaspoons per gallon. They are very sensitive to nitrites, so make sure you have good biological filtration.
   Be very careful when handling scats. The spines on their fins are mildly venomous and it hurts if you are unlucky enough to get stuck by one!

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:   Scats will swim in all parts of the aquarium but will most likely spend most of their time near the middle.

Acceptable Water Conditions:    Temp: 68 - 82° F (20 – 28° C)
   Hardness: 12 - 18 dGH
   Ph: 7.5 - 8.5

Social Behaviors:   They are a peaceful species that do best in groups of at least four. Spotted Scats are very lively fish, but they do eat plants. They will not bother other fish unless those fish are small enough to be considered a meal.

Sexual Differences:    Sexual differences are unknown.

Breeding/Reproduction:   This species of Scat has never been bred in captivity.

Availability:   Both the Red Scat and Green Scat are commonly available. The price of the red version is usually quite a bit higher than that of the green.

Author: Ken Childs
Edited by Animal-World

Lastest Comments on Spotted Scat View all 4 comments on Spotted Scat Add Your Comment

Sovit - 2010-06-19 One of the most beautiful fish displayed in a tank but a HUGE drawback! I don't know why many people claim that this fish is peaceful whereas in reality it is EXTREMELY aggressive! They keep nipping the fins of their tankmates & never get tired! They do this continuously which DOESN'T make them a peaceful community fish at all.... Click For Replies (1) robbie - 2011-10-20 i know how you feel. I had a golden gourami who DOMINATED the tank, all of my fish recently ganged up on him and killed him. Reply

Jana - 2008-09-24 A friend brought some spotted scats home from fishing. I have not seen them on the local market in Singapore. Is it save to eat this fish, I read they have a venomus spine? Click For Replies (2) Anonymous - 2010-04-07 They live where the floating toilets are, and will eat anything they can find...You still want to cook and eat these? Anupam (India) - 2010-07-12 Hi Jana, your concern is from a totally alien perspective as far as these types of forums are concerned. People here are talking of ways to keep their pets alive by caring about their food and not put them on their dinner plates (don't get carried away by the mention of dinner and salad plates with fins ). I don't think there is a single hobbyist who would want to make a food out of even a dead fish from their aquariums. I guess the general google search could feed you the answer you are hungry for. Good luck ! Reply

Tara - 2009-04-27 I have a red Scat about 2in. I ran across him at petco.funny thing is that he was not suppose to be at that petco. I'm new to taking care of this fish so any advise that you have would be great.. I read everything about them. but what is better the experiance.. Reply

ROBERT LASSON - 2008-10-19 I have had the Green Scats two different times. They are a very enjoyable fish to have. They eat out of your hand and even have a personality much like the Oscar's do. Both of mine were about 5 inches in size and would even let me pet them. I lost them due to a power loss in the winter time. Very hard to find any of this size, most always they are very small. They are very cheap if you order them from a dealer in Thailand 100 at a time. If you get them, you will always be glad you did. Reply

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