Spotted Scat

Scatophagus argus is one of the most recognisable brackish fish in the hobby, named from the Greek for 'faeces eater' due to its habit of feeding in sewage-rich mangrove waters. Its round body and bold spotted pattern are instantly recognisable. Young specimens begin life in lower salinity but adults migrate to fully marine conditions in the wild.

Water: 24–28 °C, pH 7.5–8.5, specific gravity 1.005–1.020; adults prefer marine salinity. Tank: 400 L minimum; provide open space and tough decorations, as Scats eat most plants. Feeding: Omnivorous scavenger; accepts pellets, flake, frozen foods, and vegetable matter greedily. Behaviour: Boisterous and active; can nip fins; best kept with similarly robust brackish species. Compatibility: Moonyfish, Archerfish, large brackish gobies; avoid delicate or slow-moving fish.