Spotted scat
Scatophagus argus
moderatepeacefulmiddle swimmerScatophagidae
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Group
- 5+
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C68–82 °F
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 20 cm8 in
- Lifespan
- 10–20 yrs
Needs brackish to marine water as it matures and a group in a large tank; it will eat any soft plants.Needs brackish to marine water as it matures and a group in a large tank; it will eat any soft plants.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Black kuhli loach
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brilliant rasbora
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Eastern rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Eigenmann's whiptail catfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Emerald eye rasbora
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Fly River rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Lambchop rasboraNo shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Melon barb
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- New Guinea rainbowfish
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Panda garra
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Panda tetra
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Salt and pepper coryNo shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 20–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5–8.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Coastal Indo West Pacific estuaries | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 5 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |