Care
Juvenile Red Scats are often sold as brackish water fish, but as they mature, they will require more saline waters, leading up to full marine conditions as adults. For best results use a trusted synthetic marine sea salt and a hydrometer or refractometer to monitor the conditions. The aquarium itself must be of spacious dimensions for these fast swimmers, and although juveniles can be started off in a 4ft long tank, adult fish are going to require a tank measuring at least 6ft x 2ft x 2ft. Red Scats are a naturally shoaling species and can be semi-aggressive towards each other. It is best to keep a group of at least 6 specimens to ensure a natural sized group, and this usually also has the desired effect of no one single fish bearing the continuous brunt of any aggressive behaviour. The entire group should be introduced at the same time (monitor the water quality carefully) as newcomers are often not accepted. The tank should be aquascaped to include some shadier areas amongst large bogwood pieces and slate stood up at the back of the aquarium, along with resin "root" ornaments. If plants are desired, it is best to use plastic or silk examples, as most things green and leafy are regarded as a snack. A decent amount of filtration should be employed and areas of fast water movement created in the aquarium via additional powerheads. This will also help to keep oxygen levels high. Sensitive to pollutants, the aquarium water should be kept in excellent condition at all times with frequent partial water changes. Take care when carrying out maintenance on the aquarium or when transferring these fish to a new tank as they are said to possess mildly poisonous dorsal spines. Archer fish, Monodactylus and other scats make great companions. Be sure to cover the tank well as all these fish are expert jumpers. Red Scats are thought to be a naturally occurring red strain of the Spotted/Green Scat (Scatophagus argus) and are often referred to with the erroneous scientific name Scatophagus "rubrifrons", and this improvised name seems to have well and truly stuck in the trade over the years.
Feeding
Flake, green flake, slow-sinking pellets/granules can be given, but frozen foods such as Spirulina-enriched brineshrimp, mosquito larvae, Mysis shrimp, krill, prawns (chopped for smaller specimens) etc are preferred. It is important that these fish are provided with a good amount of vegetable matter such as blanched spinach, kale, Romaine lettuce etc. Browses on certain types of algae. Will eat aquatic plants.
Breeding
Unknown. In the wild, spawning is said to take place in the sea, and once the larval stage is over, the fry migrate back to the brackish estuaries and mangroves.
