Is my scat gonna die in freshwater?

S

ScotlandAU

Registered Member
Mar 7, 2006
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Hi All..looking for some info on scats...I bought a juvinile red scat 6 months ago and he was about the size of 50c piece..hes now quite a bit larger and lost a little of his beautiful juvie colors...I also bought a second hand(sounds weird) large scat...who was out back of the store on his own and unwanted.Apparently was in quarantine as he was traded in on some marine fish. I have both of these guys in a community tank with some cichlids and a redtail shark, three silver sharks and a clown loach...2 bristlenose catfish and a little tropheus with white spots.Although the scats seem to rule the tank, I have had no fatalities.My questions are 1)will I have to make the tank brackish to keep these guys?
2)will the brackish water kill the others?(my guess is yes)
3)can you id the large one for me(how do i put a picture in?)
 
Scats will do ok in freshwater when they are very young. As they mature they need brackish water. When they are adult they need full marine. Given their requirements, not really compatible with your current setup.

Scat info
 
From what I've read around the web and heard from ppl at my LFS who're keeping fairly large (~8inch) Red Scats in one of their freshwater display tanks. Red Scats apparently will survive ok in fresh water providing the water is basic and hard, but their markings and colouration are more defined in high end brackish to marine.

Mine are only babies at the moment, but I find them such delightful little guys that giving them a dedicated tank and trying my best to provide optimal conditions as they grow is worth every cent invested.
 
cherrypie- how old are those scats? The biggest problem with keeping Scats in freshwater is stunted growth and shortened lifespan. They don't reach adult size (whic is around 15 inches) and have shorter lifespans. It is best to keep scats in freshwater when juvies, then brackish then salt as adults. Anyway hope this helps and good luck!
 
MonoSebaelover: I'll try find out if someone there knows, they were set up in a pretty typical african cichlid setup, plenty of limestone etc. they looked very active and healthy along with some Mono Argenteus which were also happy and in great condition. Honestly I'm not really suprised, it's quite amazing what fish from the north of this country will put up with, quite usual to see fish get caught in the upper reaches of tidal creeks and have to put up with anything from fresh right though to hypersaline conditions for extended periods.
 
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