The brakish water did not seem to bother the fresh water fishes.  The colourful rainbow, however, have lost their colour.  I am not adding any more salt and as I clean the tank each week the water is getting less brakish.

We did like the Scat a lot and thought about getting the other one at the store (they were a pair).  After some nasty behaviour, which I picked up on, from the Scat, one Scat for a 75 gallon tank was plenty.

From what I have read, it seems that Scat are community fish.  Well, mine is a community fish as long as you are not an Australian Rainbow.  The Scat chases these rainbows and not the others (Conga Tetras, Monos, German Rams or Pleco).  These poor fish have been relagated to the corners of the tanks and they have to stay there.  The fear cause by the Scat on the Rainbow have caused the rainbows to smash their pointy nose on the glass when they are being chased.  Often, these rainbows can turn at full speed but I guess the few times they did not their poor noses bash against the glass.  I am going to remove them and give them to the school.

The intersting thing is the realtionship between the German Rams and the Scat.  The Scat is scared of the Rams.  The Rams are one quarter the size of the Scat.  I have seen the little Rams chase the Scat out of their little homes.  It was quiet a sight given the Scat terrorizes the biggest fish, Australian Rainbows. 

I am going to get the tank back to fresh water as I have read that the Scat and Monos can handle fresh water in their early age.  I want to see if the colour comes back on the rainbows.  Fun and games with fish  

In an never ending quest to populate the tank with interesting fish, I have two new types of fish - Mono and Scat. 

OK.  It is a bit out of focus - tough when the Scat is always in motion.  This is Scatophagidae, "the dung eater".   It is a brakish water fish when they are young and a salt water fish when the mature. 

While initially they appear to be timid (one of the German Ram would corner and pin the Scat to the top of one of the smaller decorations which was home to the Ram), we have now seen that the Scat can also be dominating.  We have seen the Scat chase everyfish to the corners of the tank keeping the entire tank clear for himself.  The much bigger Autralian Rainbow would run for their lives.  But of course, the Plexco is KING.  No fish screws around with this bad boy.

This is a Mono (Monodactylidae).  Only two species compose this family, one of which is found in Australian waters.   Again, this is a brakish fish and they will need a marine environment when they grow up.  It is a cross between Discus and Silver Dollar. 

So, we have taken a step into the unknown where we have both fresh and salt water fish in the same tank.  The Rainbows have lost their colooours.  I am not sure if it was the brakish water or if this was just a phase in their maturity. 

I find fish the size of 3" and up are more sutiable for a 75 gallon tank.  The smaller neon and tetras were so small they were hard to see.