Make us your Homepage   Recommend this site   Add  this site to Favorites     

A freshwater fish native to the Murray/Darling river system in Australia. Wild populations are also located in north east New South Wales and south east Queensland.   Small communities are found in Victoria.  Silver Perch is also farmed.

Silver Perch live in fresh water.  In lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers.   They can survive in water with temperatures ranging from 2°C to 35°C.   Optimum growth rates occur between 23-28°C and growth is negligible below 12°C.

Silver Perch are suited to aquaculture because of their high survival and rapid growth rates.  Commercial production normally occurs in purpose built earthen ponds.   Recommended pond size is 0.3 to 0.4 of a hectare surface area with depths of 0.7 to 1.5 metres.  The ponds should be easily drainable and have a concrete sump to assist in the harvest of stock.

In their natural habitat, Silver Perch spawn during the summer floods when water temperatures are above 20°C. A 1.5kg fish may produce up to 500,000 eggs.  Males are difficult to distinguish from females by external examination.  However Females are usually larger and more round when spawning.  At spawning two or three male fish may follow the female near the surface of the water and activity and speed increase at spawning when fish may thrash the water surface.

Eggs are spherical, amber coloured at first but colourless and transparent later, approximately 3m in diameter, non-adhesive and pelagic, but will come to rest on the bottom in still water.  Eggs hatch within 30 hours at temperatures between 22°C and 31°C.  Fry begin to feed about 5 days after hatching.

Silver Perch are omnivores consuming zooplankton, small crustaceans, aquatic insects, molluscs, algae and plant material.  Juvenile Silver Perch preferentially feed on crustaceans and zooplankton with the proportion of algae and plant material increasing with age.

Silver Perch are a good sportfish on light tackle.  Successful baits include artificial flies, lures, worms, yabbies and shrimps.

Small head with jaws of equal length. The snout becomes increasingly beak-like with increased size of fish. Small eyes and small scales. Body colour varies with water quality, being black, grey, olive green or gold on the upper body, grey to greenish or gold to silver on the sides, and white on the belly.

Silver perch commonly reach 35-40 cm in length and 750g to 1.5kg in weight, specimens up to 61cm and 8 kg have been recorded. An omnivore with a varied diet of small aquatic insects, molluscs, earthworms and plant material.

Click for the full article

Link to PDF File (118kb)

Source: http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/

Click for the full article

Source: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/

Spawning usually occurs in summer (early November to late January), often after long migrations behind the peak of a flood, but movements during the rest of the year are unknown. Females mature in the third year at about 34cm, mature males have been recorded at 23cm. large females produce about 500,000 eggs. Spawning occurs in water temperatures of 23-30^oC, often beginning in late afternoon, where there is a water flow over a gravel, rock rubble bottom. There is usually considerable pre-spawning activity at the surface. Eggs hatch within 2 days; larvae commence feeding about 6 days later, individual fish commonly reach 250-300 g in weight in their first year.

Habitat occurs in a variety of water conditions but shows a preference for a fast-flowing waters, especially where there are rapids. Also found in lakes, lagoons and impoundments. Prefers open waters rather than heavily snagged areas, and is often seen in schools near the surface. Often congregates in summer in large numbers below rapids and weirs. Is not reported in inhabit cool, high, upper reaches of streams.

No Information available at this time

No Information available at this time

Applicants for a new aquaculture licence should read through the following information. Licence application forms can be obtained from the Fisheries Victoria Aquaculture Unit head office or from regional NRE offices.

Click for the full article

Source: http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/

Granite  Belt  Fish  Hatchery  is  a  family  run  hatchery  establish  in  1987 and  is  located  near  Stanthorpe  not  far  from  the  Queensland -  New South  Wales  border.  Prior to purchasing fingerlings it is advisable that information is first obtained from Fisheries Victoria to ensure an understanding of the National Translocation Policy.

Click for the full article

Source: http://www.aaq.com.au/

No Information available at this time

No Information available at this time

Copyright © Gippsland Aquaculture Industry Network Inc. 2001/2002/2003 - All Rights Reserved

TOP OF PAGE