Adult size of Silver Scats and Mono Sabaes

[munkee]

how big silver scats and mono sabaes grow?

[Sharyl C]

check www.fishbase.org

[goldfish freak]

Mono Sebaes can grow to over a foot tall, although they usually do not get that big in aquariums. I would say that with good water quality and lots of high quality food, you can expect a size of about 8-9 inches tall. I do not know much about silver scats but I do know they grow fairly large as well.

[MonoSebaelover]

Agree with the above. Silver Scats are the smaller species of scat compared to the Ruby and Green but can still get a good foot. Just remember that Scats and Monos need to be in saltwater as adults. I have seen 6 adult Mono Sebaes in a fw African Cichlid tank (125g) and they only reached 6 inchs which is pretty sad.

[goldfish freak]

6 inches that is pretty sad, I am hoping mine will grow to over a foot high :D, that would be spectacular.

[Ledslnger]

I just had my last Silver Scat pass away out of a group of 3 that I grew out. He was well over 10 years old. I think around 13 or so years old. He weighed a lot, close to two pounds I am guessing...maybe more. He was big. I think he died of old age...he was starting to get a couple bumps(tumors?) around his mouth. They had developed over a years time and hadn't had an effect on his eating and would not go away with any type of medication or water changes. All the other fish in the tank were healthy. Don't think it was something I could have prevented. They are a fun fish...someday I will have to get another group and hope they last for 10-15 years too!

[Faramir]

Despite wide availability, I'm not conviced that monos and scats are ideal aquarium fish. They do get very large, as mentioned, and the fact is (IIRC) that they are actually marine fish that return to the rivers to spawn. The young gradually migrate to the sea.

Unless you're prepared to simulate this for them, in a large tank, I'm unconvinced of the wisdom of keeping these fish.

[MonoSebaelover]

I don't agree at all with Monos and Scats not being kept in captivity. They only get a foot (long or tall depending on the species). There are far worse fish that people keep in captivity like Piranhas, Red Tail Catfish (SA), Shovelnose Cats, Batfish (SW), Golden Trevally's, etc. It is not that hard to duplicate their natural habitat. Sure, they won't get the salinity fluctuations like they do in the wild but they are perfectly happy in captivity. I have 4 Mono Sebaes and 3 Silver Scats among other fish in a 209G Saltwater tank. The Monos are about 4 inches tall and the Scats are about 4 inches long. They are all still babies but see no problem with keeping them in captivity. I think the sad thing is when people keep SA Red tail Catfish in captivity. Unless provided a pool, they are not good captivity inhabitants, not Monos and Scats.

[moose1960]

MonoSebaelover:
1. At what point/size would you recommend they go to full
marine.
I have 4 scats,3 mono S and 3 Mono A, and they are now at 1.009 and each week i try to raise it buy .001. At this point i am doing 2~3 20% water changes per week.(Not hard work with python). Hopefully getting new reef ready tank in the new year(either getting wood one built or buy a ready made from LFS) havent decided yet. Still doing research on marine so I would like to hold off as long as possible, but also not distress my fish.
Right now they are aprox 1 to 1 1/2 inches still small.

[MonoSebaelover]

I would say around 4 inches or so, one should start thinking about taking them to salt. I think with my first Sebaes I waited till the babies were 6 inches. This time my 209 had just finished cycling and rather than adding my expensive Triggers, I wanted to make sure the tank was fully cycled. My Silver Scats went to saltwater when they were about 2.5inches. I bought them when they were .5-1 inch (microscopic little things!) and now the biggest one is 4 inches.

[goldfish freak]

MonoSebaelover, I am assuming that you slowly raised the specific gravity from brackish to full marine. If so , what size were the Monos when you started this and over what period of time did you do this? I have a question, why do you say that at about 4 inches is a good size to move them to salt water? Thanks.

[MonoSebaelover]

I brought them up to sw in one week. Put some salt in, in the morning and in the evening. I just said around 4 inches or so because that is a bit more than a 1/4 of their adult size. Plus I also think I probably waited too long on the other batch. I had an adult with 3 babies and the adult was always pretty pissed. I also think that the Sebaes need more salt sooner than Argenteus. I don't have any proof on this theory but that is what I think.

[goldfish freak]

MonoSebaelover, What was the specific gravity of the water when you started to raise it? Also did you find that raising the specific gravity this fast affected the filter bacteria in a negative way?

[moose1960]

Hey Goldfish freak:
Keep asking those questions, I dont have to type so much :D

MonoSebaelover:
do you premix each time thouroly or just add the salt? What is the reason for the premix. I admit i take short cuts and just stir my salt in a big measuring cup, but try to make sure no solids go in. Is this harmful?

One thing I have noticed, between the Columbian sharks, the monos and the scats, meal time is a frenzy. I feed twice a day and I swear if i fed by the 2 min rule I would run out of food in a hurry.

[goldfish freak]

LOL, no problem, it helps the both of us.

[Faramir]

MSLover - Read my post. I didn't say these fish shouldn't be kept. I just wonder whether their wide availability is a good thing. I specifically said "Unless you're prepared to simulate this for them, in a large tank".

Since you are, I have no problem. Just a general musing. Like the other species you mention, I fear that a lot of people get these fish when they are small without realising the full implications of owning them. I wanted to ensure the opening poster was fully aware of these implications, which go beyond the adult size.

[PunkMartyr]

My green scat is an herbivore is this common? I thought they were omnivorous.

[Faramir]

Actually - do you know what 'Scatophagus' translates into English as? I should look it up...

[MonoSebaelover]

Scatophagus is literally translated as "dung eater". They are commonly found in estatuaries where the water is filled with sewage and waste. Scats are primarily herbivores but since they will eat meaty foods are considered omnivores. If one puts brine shrimp or the like in front of a Scat, will they eat it? Yes! That is why they are considered omnivores.

[Huyzel]

Ya, Scats will eat ANYTHING.
mine gets lots of protein from bloodworms, shrimp, and squid, along with his vegetable matter.
they grow pretty fast with a high protein diet.
i've actually seen my scat eat "dung" lol.

[MonoSebaelover]

Yeah, I am thinking of selling my 3 Silvers cause they are quite piggy! They outcompete Triggers! Yes, they are in saltwater and the biggest is coming on 5 inches. I want to get more delicate stuff, and fish that aren't quite so energetic to get food. I currently have them in a 209G tank with a 4 inch Niger Trigger, 3 inch True Bursa Trigger, 1 inch Huma Rectangle, 5 inch Lunare Wrasse, and the newest addition a 3 inch Flame Angel. Scats can survive anything though, and are extremely hardy. Great for the beginning brackish aquariust. My guys live in harmony until after I feed them and they are fat, the biggest one chases the other two. Don't know why but oh well!