![]() Müller/Flickr Brian Gratwicke/Flickrĥ Tips for Avoiding Bears During Your Wilderness Dog Walks Scats are not known to breed in captivity. They are extremely peaceful and thrive when kept in large schools of 6 or more fish. Scats are omnivores and will readily accept most kinds of foods like flakes, algae, brine shrimp, lettuce and dried seaweed. Scats are also known to devour fecal matter of other fish hence their scientific name Scatophagus which means dung eater. It is important to remember however that older scats can sometimes prey on smaller tank mates. These fish are extremely peaceful and make excellent additions to most brackish water community aquariums. Therefore it is important that the scat’s aquarium has adequate filtration and that weekly water changes are carried out. They are also extremely sensitive to nitrite levels. ![]() Scats are gregarious eaters and produce a significant amount of waste. It has been noted that Java Fern is toxic to this species of fish and should not be introduced to the aquarium. However, scats are known to eat most types of aquarium plants and some aquarists prefer to use artificial plants in the scat’s aquarium. In the wild scats inhabit mangroves and other estuaries and prefer aquariums with plenty of plants and hiding spaces. Scats are highly active and enjoy aquariums with large open swimming spaces. Scats can however grow up to 10 inches in length when given adequate space and should therefore be raised in fairly large aquariums. Purchase size is usually around 2″ to 2 1/2″.Scats are extremely peaceful and thrive when kept in large schools of 6 or more fish. The Spotted Scat (Green Scat) and Red Scat (or Ruby Scat) are both readily available to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts however the price of the red version is usually much higher than that of the more common green variety. ![]() For this reason, they have never been bred in captivity. Like Salmon, Eel, and Trout, the fry will swim to freshwater where they grow and then return to a more brackish or salt water environment. Spotted Scats normally spawn in saltwater reefs. Occasional feedings of shrimp, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, or bloodworms will keep their diet balanced. They are more herbivorous than many other brackish water species and need a good amount of vegetable matter such as algae, dried or fresh seaweed, blanched spinach or lettuce, zucchini or cucumber slices, and frozen peas. In an aquarium environment they will eat almost anything put into their tank. In the wild, Spotted Scats feed on worms, insects, crustaceans, and plant matter. Weekly tank maintenance with 20 to 30% water changes are also required. As they mature, they require additional salt added to their water until a marine salinity is achieved.īecause Spotted Scats are sloppy eaters and extremely sensitive to nitrites, they need a good biological filtration system with plenty of water movement and swimming space to thrive. The addition of 2 to 3 teaspoons of marine salt per gallon of tank water will initially keep Spotted Scats healthy and bring out their colors. Plants can be added to their tank but will be eaten as the fish grow. ![]() They need a fine gravel or sand substrate with driftwood branches or roots for them to hide among. To begin with, juvenile Spotted Scats need a tank of at least 60 gallons when they can be kept in freshwater, however, as they grow, they should be gradually transitioned to brackish and eventually salt water to keep them in top condition. They will usually not bother other fish unless they are small enough to be considered on their menu. Many tropical fish keeping enthusiasts keep them in mixed schools with Monos, and except for some aggressive species, Spotted Scats will get along well with most other types of larger fish. ![]()
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