Scatophagus argus ("Scats")

[hongqixian]

Hi everyone,

this is not really a discussion, but i just wanted to share my scats. They are not officially marine (brackish actually) but i kept them in saltwater for a couple of days then switched back to freshwater for convenience's sake, does that count? "

A brackish pufferfish too, also in freshwater

Also, my extremely cheap single-fish domino damsel tank. I keep it as a pet.

AT can delete this post if it's out of topic.

i would have posted this in the Member's tank section but it isn't exactly a tank, just fish. Will post my 2ft au naturale mushroom tank soon when the algae and the copepod/amphipod swarm encrusting its walls is cleaned up.

[hongqixian]

next pic

[hongqixian]

the puffer

[hongqixian]

the damsel tank (with strong aeration from a powerhead)

[hongqixian]

To keep in line with the topic,

The scats can be quite easily converted to full saltwater when young but very SLOWLY. They are harmless herbivores (but do eat pellet/flake/dried shrimp). I don't know how good they are at surviving in a reef but i've seen them swimming in the sea at Changi (although it isn't much of a reef)

i keep the domino damsel at a salinity of around 1.017 - 1.020 (it fluctuates according to evaporation). Tried it after seeing the many healthy fish at Crane Road (their tanks' salinity is about 1.019 or some where around that according to my Coralife Hydrometer)

the conversion of the domino damsel to a lower salinity was a little stressful for it (i made sure to feed him well first before any salinity changes, as i did with the scats). He seems quite happy in this reduced salinity environment. I assume it's less stressful for fish and it saves me salt.

Attn newbies: lower salinity is NOT for invertebrates and many delicate fish. I just choose to keep him at this salinity because damsels are practically nuclear resistant (ok, that was an exaggeration)

[FuEl]

Just to add...you can catch nicer scats at East Coast beach...Those kind that are brilliant yellow with black spots...with a red 'cap'...during their teenage years..

When they are juveniles they will shoal..which makes them quite easy to catch with a hand net...Just stand in the sea and look out for small swimming black 'leaves'...when they grow up their colours will improve...but upon reaching adult stage..the color becomes dull again...

[FuEl]

Oh yes..since you like puffers so much...When I was back in secondary sch...one day I went to east coast..the breakwater zone...I used those BIG handnets attached to poles..scraped along the edge of the breakwater..caught LOTS of pufferfish...not the normal ones that you commonly see...but rather unique...The whole body grey....with a BRIGHT yellow tail... Caught about 20-30 of them...dunno why they so stupid all stay together... But in the end released most of them..brought 5-6 home...My marine hobby started from there..

[hongqixian]

Just to add...you can catch nicer scats at East Coast beach...Those kind that are brilliant yellow with black spots...with a red 'cap'...during their teenage years..

When they are juveniles they will shoal..which makes them quite easy to catch with a hand net...Just stand in the sea and look out for small swimming black 'leaves'...when they grow up their colours will improve...but upon reaching adult stage..the color becomes dull again...

I used to keep 2 of those in my first saltwater tank. I dunno if they would acclimatize well to saltwater. You're right, they really are nice. just got no time to catch them... sigh

[hongqixian]

Oh yes..since you like puffers so much...When I was back in secondary sch...one day I went to east coast..the breakwater zone...I used those BIG handnets attached to poles..scraped along the edge of the breakwater..caught LOTS of pufferfish...not the normal ones that you commonly see...but rather unique...The whole body grey....with a BRIGHT yellow tail... Caught about 20-30 of them...dunno why they so stupid all stay together... But in the end released most of them..brought 5-6 home...My marine hobby started from there..

I'm not sure if my idea is right, but i used to catch puffers from Bedok Jetty, small ones about 3 - 4 inches long with greenish bodies and yellow tails. Maybe those are the juvies?