Scats

These fishes belong in the "Order Perciformes" and "Suborder Acanthuroidei" as members of the "Family Scatophagidae" (Scats) consisting of 1 genus, and 4 species.

Scats have compressed bodies like butterflies. Juveniles are found near river entrances and estuaries where freshwater abounds and they can be maintained in brackish, freshwater, and marine aquariums. Adults are normally found in wholly marine environments. They take a wide variety of foodstuffs, including copious amounts of vegetable matter. Actually, 'Scatophagus' means "dung eater" which came about because they were seen feeding on sewage. However, they are actually omnivores. If slowly acclimated to seawater for a couple of days they make good additions to reef aquariums, as they are also a very good consumer of Aiptasia anemones.