Selenotoca papuensis fish has a general body colour of silver marked with seven or eight black vertical bands on the upper part of the body; these bands break up into spots on the lower part of the body. The spiny dorsal and lips are black. The body shape is vertically compressed and oval, similar to Scatophagy argus. These fish have never been bred in captivity, and there’s no recognized technique of determining the sexes. Adult aquarium specimens attain a length of 4 inches.

Even though it is not considered a community fish, simply because it usually inhabits brackish water, Selenotoca papuensis could be acclimatised to fresh water if the transition is gradual. It can then be included in a community of fresh-water tropical fish, providing the other members are about the exact same size.

Spotted scat has a very slim, laterally compressed body, which is almost disc-like in outline. It is coloured grey to green, or pink to bronze-yellow, and is marked by big circular spots that vary in colour from a dark green to black. The body colour and markings are so variable with this species that they’re frequently erroneously thought to be various species.

There are numerous sub-species, but as these have not as yet been accurately classified the aquarist can think about these numerous sub-species as S. argus.

Under natural conditions these fish are found in brackish water, and for this reason it has not been designated here as a community specimen. It could be kept in a fresh water aquarium, nevertheless, if a small salt is added to the water; one ounce of sea salt to eight gallons of water, or preferably one part of sea water to 20 parts of fresh water. If no salt is added, the water should be maintained in an alkaline condition of pH 7.4 or a small above. Brackish water is, nevertheless, preferable.

Even though the spotted scats grow to 12 inches long in their natural environment, aquarium specimens rarely exceed 4 inches. They’re active, harmless fish, and turn out to be very tame when acclimatised.

To date, they’ve not been bred in captivity, and no certain means have yet been determined to differentiate the sexes.

These fish are natural scavengers and are found in estuaries, mouths of rivers, and harbours of tropical ports. They’re omnivorous and will eat nearly anything.

Like all catfish, the dwarf sucking catfish is a scavenger, but with a difference-it has a sucking organ. This organ is truly an extension of the lips, along with a very helpful piece of equipment it is, simply because it enables the fish to climb all over the plants, up one side and down the other, removing algae as it travels. Even though not a extremely coloured fish, it has a charm in the streamlined shape of its body. The average length for an adult is 1.75 inches. The body colouring is a darkish-brown, lightening as it approaches the underparts, and is overlaid with a slightly darker mottling.

An additional peculiarity of this fish is that it’ll occasionally swim upside down instantly below the water surface, clinging to it as it apparently sucks in any floating food.

The sucking catfish is an interesting exhibit in any tank, very inoffensive and fairly hardy.

Regrettably it is rarely bred in the aquarium.

The glass catfish is an oddity from Malaya.

The body is truly transparent. The skeleton is very effortlessly seen. If it had been not for the silvery sac containing the internal organs, it would be challenging indeed to find the fish in any aquarium.

An additional interesting feature is the long anal fin which occupies most of the ventral surface of the body. This fin has a wavy action not unlike a thin reed in rapidly flowing water. The two barbels, which are comparatively long, hang from the upper lip. Fully grown specimens in the aquarium rarely exceed 2-3 inches.

Glass catfish should be fed mainly with live food, but they’ll eat a small quantity of dried food. They’re very happy in a community tank at a temperature of 72° – 82° F once they’ve turn out to be acclimatised.

Their breeding habits are unknown.