Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Peaceful

They are lively, curious, and generally peaceful schooling fish that add immense activity to the tank. They can be somewhat boisterous during feeding time, outcompeting slower fish for food. As they mature, they require increasingly saline water to remain healthy and vibrant.

Diet

Omnivore

Selenotoca multifasciata is omnivorous with a strong inclination towards herbivory. Their diet must include a large amount of vegetable matter, such as spirulina flakes, blanched spinach, and marine algae. They will also greedily consume meaty foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms.

Sex ratio

School

There are no obvious external sexual differences between males and females. They are best kept in a shoal of at least five or six individuals to display natural behaviors. Keeping them in groups helps diffuse any minor intra-species aggression.

Feeding frequency

TWO_THREE_DAILY

Due to their active nature and rapid digestion of plant matter, they should be fed multiple small meals throughout the day. Feeding them two to three times daily helps maintain their energy levels and overall health. A varied rotation of foods prevents dietary deficiencies.

Bioload

The Spotbanded Scat produces a significant bioload, especially when kept in the recommended groups. They are messy eaters and very active swimmers with high metabolisms. Excellent mechanical filtration and strong biological filtration, along with regular water changes, are necessary.

Flow

Strong

They originate from coastal estuaries and mangrove swamps where water movement is constant. A strong, turbulent flow in the aquarium is highly appreciated and mimics their natural tidal habitats. Powerheads can be used to create the necessary water movement.

Jump risk

No

Reproduction

Oviparous

Breeding in the home aquarium is extremely rare and poorly documented for this species. In nature, they spawn in the ocean, and the juveniles migrate into brackish estuaries to grow. Replicating the necessary changes in salinity and environment for breeding is highly complex.

Compatibility & tankmates

Verify

They are peaceful but active and robust schooling fish that do well in brackish or marine community setups. Good tank mates include Monos, Archerfish, and other scats that share similar water requirements. They should not be trusted with very small fish or delicate, slow-moving species.

Tank level

Middle

These scats are primarily mid-water swimmers that are constantly on the move. They will occasionally forage along the bottom or pick at algae on rocks and decorations. They require plenty of open swimming space to thrive.