False scad (Caranx rhonchus)

Scientific name: Caranx rhonchus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817

The False scad (Caranx rhonchus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Carangidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 15–22°C (59–72°F). Native range: Eastern Atlantic, Morocco to Angola, including the Mediterranean along the African coast. Range reported to extend south to Namibia.

False scad care at a glance

Temperature: 15–22°C (59–72°F)

Biology

Form schools. They occur frequently near the bottom, mostly in depths of 30 to 50 m. Also pelagic and found near the surface at times. Feed on small fish and invertebrates. Spawning grounds are located in shallow waters. Eggs are pelagic.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Caranx rhonchus
Family: Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 60.0
Common length: 35.0
Depth range: 30–200 m (98–656 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 30 - 200 m, usually 30 - 50 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Eastern Atlantic: Morocco to Angola, including the Mediterranean along the African coast. Range reported to extend south to Namibia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.16-0.3; Fec = 480,000)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026