Selenotoca Mulifasciata

[fry_lover]

My local pet shop (family run) is selling these fish as Silver Scats and they are currently about 1.5", the owner was enthusiastically telling me how "most scats are brackish" but these are "specifically freshwater".

I expressed to him that as far as i know, lots of brackish fish are marketed as "freshwater" but they are supposed to be in brackish conditions ideally.

At this point he appeared to lose interest in what i was saying

I did love these fish though, there were two following each other around constantly in the tank, should i disregard the "freshwater" tactics of the owner, and not return in case i make an impulse buy for my 5x2x2 ?

i dont see the point of buying fish for a freshwater set-up that "require" brackish when they get older? Is this the case with Selenotoca mulifasciata?

How much of a life could they have in a freshwater 5x2x2?

I hope Neale posts, but all feedback welcome!


EDIT: sorry this has been covered on the forum before after seeing it from a search i did. Perhaps this quote from Neale sums it up?

"All scats are tolerant of a very wide range of salinities, though keeping them in freshwater permanently isn't recommended. Certainly keep that at least at SG 1.005, and ideally at SG 1.010-1.018. They will also do well in marine tanks, though this isn't essential"

Cheers, Neale

 

[nmonks]

My local pet shop (family run) is selling these fish as Silver Scats and they are currently about 1.5", the owner was enthusiastically telling me how "most scats are brackish" but these are "specifically freshwater".

Complete rubbish. While he may have been told that these are "freshwater scats" -- and it is certainly true scats can live a long time in freshwater conditions -- there are (as far as I know) no completely freshwater species or populations.

i dont see the point of buying fish for a freshwater set-up that "require" brackish when they get older? Is this the case with Selenotoca mulifasciata?

Yes.

Do see here, for example:

http/www.amonline.net.au/FISHES/fishfact...sh/smultifa.htm
http/filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/Speci...ry.php?id=12257

This species swims in and out of rivers and can indeed be found in completely freshwater environments, but it appears to be a temporary resident compared with true freshwater fish. From personal experience of this species, I have found it to be hardy in brackish water, but prone to lymphocystis and pop-eye in freshwater.

Cheers, Neale

 

[fry_lover]

thanks Neale