Scats
Hello,
Could you tell me the best place to order green scats? Thank you very much.
Jonathan
<Actually, I would buy them from a local dealer who got them in for you, held them for about a week... to assure their health. Bob Fenner>
Jonathan 

Green scats not Down Under   10/2/06
G'day there,
<And to you>           
                   In regards to the green scat (Scatophagus argus). I work with one of the largest tropical fish importers in the southern hemisphere and everyone I ask about the green scat nobody has heard of them.
<Is the same species (currently): See here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Scatart.htm  and fishbase.org... different distribution... more or less a geographical "race">
I have done a lot of research on this fine specimen and nobody can tell me anything.
I am from Australia and the red scat or ruby scat are very common same as the silver scat, I have over half a dozen of the red scats in a 200 gallon or 700 litre tank along with the same amount of mono argents. A lot of websites I have been on, tell me the green scat is exactly the same as the red or ruby just a different morph. If this is so I am curious why they are not sold in Australia?
<Mmm, my guess is that it's just more money, paperwork to import...>
Is this because they are illegal, rare or any other reason am not sure of? I have been after these for quite some time. As far
as I know they are not illegal, but would like to know as much about them as I can. Some people also call them spotted scats.
Thank you        kind regards         Jared.
<Could check with "the boss" there at the store, who orders livestock. Bob Fenner>

Re: green scats not down under   10/4/06
I spoke to the big guns of quarantine, and it took them a little while to get back to me with no different info than I already knew. That the green or red scats (Scatophagus argus) are the same species,
<Yep>
and they find it weird that they have never been on our market.
<Mmm, have seen very nice reddish ones in Australia... and collected Green ones in/near sewage outfalls in parts of S.E. Asia... (keep your snorkel in your mouth!)... but do think the physical separation, cost might be about it>
Considering they are a native fish, and are guessing there not illegal here. I will continue to find out more about them, but want to thank you for getting back to me.
Yours sincerely     Jared Ridley
<Thank you. Bob Fenner>