Red Scat

[gogregerson]

Has anyone had one in thier reef tanks before. My buddy just gave me his and it seems to be doing great in my tank. The crazy part is, it came out of his freshwater tank. After about two hours of drip acclimation it's swimming in saltwater! Even cooler is it's going through a color change. In fresh water it had a dark, solid body. In saltwater it's got green stripes and black dots.

[Sizzlersonthebrain]

scientific names would help that and pics. was it a brackish water fish that was sold as "freshwater fish" like they do with pufers and rays?

[gogregerson]

Red Scat ( Scatophagus argus arromaculatus), which can be found in fresh, brackish, and salt water habitats of coastal areas in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, is not a true freshwater fish in nature. The young ones can be kept in fresh or brackish water, but as they mature they are best in a salt water environment, as they live mostly in the ocean. 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 under go a metamorphosis while young. The young have large heads and sturdy bony plates in the larvae stage. As they mature, their armored plating under goes 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).

[wkjames]

These fish consume great quantities of food, therefore regular water changes are essential...................... The Scat is known for its habit of feeding on ocean sewage in its natural habitat, hence the name Scatophagus (dung-eater).

Don't these 2 facts contradict?lol

[storrisch]

Don't these 2 facts contradict?lol

I could crap in clean water....

[gogregerson]

http://www.tcmas.org/forums/imagehosting/thum_1246c87f2ecea31.jpg (http://www.tcmas.org/forums/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=421)

[gogregerson]

I can't figure out how to post larger pics, sorry

[capman]

Cool fish. If I am not mistaken, they are related to butterflyfish.

Our archerfish really needs some sort of totally non-aggressive companion to help it stay calmer. I've been thinking a scat might fit the bill, but I'm not sure whether or not a scat would be aggressive. What are the companions of this fish, and does it show any aggression towards any of them?