Spotted Scat
Scatophagus argus
Brackish Indo-Pacific
A round, disc-like shoaling fish marked with dark spots. Although juveniles tolerate freshwater temporarily, long-term survival demands brackish conditions progressing to full marine salinity as adults. They possess mildly venomous dorsal spines, devour aquatic vegetation indiscriminately, and produce heavy waste, requiring diligent filtration and strong water flow.
Also called: Spotted scat, Argus fish, Butter fish.
Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 4 fish added.
What it needs
| Item | Value | Because |
|---|---|---|
| Adult length | 25 cm | Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round. |
| Smallest tank | 400 L, at least 150 cm long estimated | The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group. |
| Extra water per added fish | 80 L estimated | What each further fish adds once the minimum is met. |
| Waste load | Class 4 of 5 estimated | How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check. |
| Temperature | 22 to 28 C | Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges. |
| pH | 7.5 to 8.5 | Compared with tankmates in the Water check. |
| Hardness | GH 12 to 25, KH 8 to 15 | Degrees of general and carbonate hardness. |
| Flow | Medium | Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current. |
| Light | Moderate | Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet. |
| Group size | At least 4, ideally 6 | Kept alone or in small numbers it hides, fades or turns on tankmates. |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Not territorial. |
| Swims in | Middle water | Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily. |
| Lifespan | About 12 years | A fish is a long commitment. |
| Experience | Some experience helps | A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes. |
Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.
Diet and tank layout
Spotted Scat is an omnivore that swims in the middle of the tank. It eats or uproots plants, so choose hard-leaved species or none. Give it some cover. It nips fins.
Tankmates
Works with
No close matches in the data. Check the pair tool.
Depends
- Yucatan Sailfin Molly
- Indian Glassy Fish
- Silver Moony
- African Moony
- Banded Archerfish
- Columbian Shark
- Orange Chromide
- Bumblebee Goby
- Four-Eyed Fish
- Knight Goby
- Barred Mudskipper
- Green Chromide
- Sheepshead Minnow
- Silver Scat
- Banded Killifish
- Banded Lampeye
- Belly Pipefish
- Blueback Blue-Eye
- Green Panchax
- Javanese Ricefish
- Mummichog
- Queen of Siam Goby
- Shortfin Molly
- Shuttles Mudskipper
Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.