Fish of the Month

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Silver Perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)

Silver Perch are found in most of the Murray-Darling Basin, except for the upper parts of streams. They live in rivers and creeks on slopes, tablelands and plains, in lakes, dams and large wetlands. They can survive in a wide range of water temperatures, so can live in some warm still-water habitats but they are more commonly found in fast-flowing waters with rapids. They can also tolerate water that is quite muddy.

Silver Perch grow to a length of 30-40 cm and average 0.75-1.5 kg in weight, although bigger individual fish have been caught - one weighed 8 kg. Silver Perch can live for up to 27 years.

Silver Perch eat plants and animals, such as small aquatic insects, molluscs, earthworms and green algae.

Adult Silver Perch move long distances upstream (sometimes more than 1,000 km) after floods to spawn (breed). Young fish are known to move upstream the day after small rises in water levels. Little is known about the movements of adults when they are not spawning.