Silver Perch
Bidyanus bidyanus
Silver perch occur naturally in the Murray Darling drainage system and have also been stocked into impoundments in Queensland. A popular recreational angling species they are often caught at around 750g and are a good eating fish, especially suited to smoking. Silver perch rise readily to artificial flies and lures but prefer freshwater shrimp and worms.
Silver perch has rapidly become a valuable aquaculture species grown for the restaurant trade as they can easily be weaned onto fish pellets. They grow well in aquaculture facilities with earthen ponds.
The wild populations of this species have undergone a dramatic decline in abundance throughout the range of the species since the introduction of the European carp.
Description
Silver perch are a medium size freshwater fish capable of growing in excess of 60cm in length and close to 4kg, although mainly caught around the 1-2kg. They have a small head, small eyes and small mouth. Silver perch vary in colour from dark grey to silver, greyish brown. Silver perch are a low order predator of aquatic invertebrate, they are omnivorous, feeding on insect larvae, molluscs, worms and vegetative matter.
Silver perch are a schooling fish with preference for flowing water although thrive in the large dams where they have been stocked.
Silver perch are well suited to the on growing for the restaurant trade and are widely used in aquaculture earthen ponds where they are fed specially formulated extruded fish pellets.
Habitat & Distribution
Silver Perch were in the entire Murray Darling system, however they have undergone a vast and catastrophic decline. Silver perch have now declined close to the point of extinction in the wild.
However Silver perch are bred extensively in aquaculture and have been stocked into the large impoundments in southern Queensland.
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