Red Scat

[Flunter]

Hi all, will the Red Scat survive ok in a fresh water tank?
TIA

Phil.

 

[Colin_T]

red scats can live in fresh water as long as the PH isn't acidic and the hardness too low. Smaller scats do better than bigger ones.
Watch out for their dorsal spines. They have a venom sack at the base and it can cause a painful sting if you are stuck by the spine. The venom breaks down quickly with heat so immerse the stung area in hot water for a little while and the pain will go. Make sure the wate risn't too hot otherwise you could burn yourself.

 

[CFC]

No is the short answer to that question. If kept in freshwater indefinitely its health will slowly deteriorate until the fish eventually dies. The scat will be fine in freshwater for a short while but does need to be in a brackish tank for its long term health.

 

[nmonks]

As CFC says, the short answer is a resounding NO.

In freshwater tanks they are prone to lymphocystis, pop-eye, and other opportunistic sicknesses. On the other hand, they do fine even at salinities as low as SG 1.005, so maintenance isn't really that much of a chore. More important is carbonate hardness (to stave off acidification) and good filtration/water changes.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Flunter]

Many thanks for the comprehensive replies

So how about I turn the question around. If the salt concentration can be so low, how would my existing fish fair:
Clown Loach, Silver Shark, Bronze cory, Golden Gourami, Platy, Sailfin Mollie and the inevitable Neons.

 

[nmonks]

Sailfin Mollies are fine up to (and in fact above) seawater. So they're not a problem.

Platies will easily handle SG 1.003, and with care most thrive even to SG 1.005.

None of the other fish are salt tolerant at all. If you want something *like* a scat for a freshwater community aquarium, I think you're better off looking at the real freshwater perciforms. Cichlids are obviously one option, but so are glassfish, climbing perch and a variety of other things. Silver dollars look and behave a lot like scats of course, being silvery with black and red colours and herbivorous tendencies.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Colin_T]

I wouldn't put a scat in with those fish. It will eat the neons and cause problems. Also as mentioned by nmonks, most of your fish don't like salt.
If you want a red scat perhaps get another tank for it.

 

[Flunter]

Thanks everyone

If you want a red scat perhaps get another tank for it.

It was simply that I liked the look of the Red scat

Please recommend a similar looking fish that will reach about 8", my tank could stand about 3 of that size? (the 5 remaining Neons have been in the tank for nearly 2 years and wont be getting replaced)