Silver Perch
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The PERCH MAN
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Silver perch definitely are NOT vegetarian, they are in fact omnivores.
SILVER PERCH - High in Omega-3
click to see 65,000 silver perch dance to music
Did you know how healthy silver perch are to eat?
They are a super food.
They are full of healthy Omega-3
CSIRO tests* showed that Australian silver perch had 792mg/100gms of omega-3.
*This testing was conducted at the CSIRO Marine Research Laboratories, Hobart as part of an FRDC project 99/331.
Silver perch fingerlings are an ideal fish for ponds and dams.
Be sure to check local regulations before stocking any fingerlings into your dam anywhere within Australia.
They are also good for aquaponicsin cooler climates where jade perchwon't handle the winter water temperatures.
When grown in tanks, silver perch fingerlings will only grow to about 300 to 350 grams in about a year, given reasonable growing conditions.
Unless it is a flow through system, then they will keep growing to reach about 500 to 800 grams in one to two years, depending on conditions.
In Singapore they have grown to 1 kg in 12 months.
That's because Singapore has a year round tropical climate, ideal for silver perch.
Silver perch have been farmed commercially for decades.
They are an ideal fish for growing in ponds, cages and raceways.
They will also grow in tanks, however some tank systems do not produce perfect results.
For reasons not fully understood, some tank systems seem to result in a growth barrier at about 300-350 grams.
For hobby backyard aquaponicsystems this probably won't be a problem as 350 grams is still a good plate size whole fish.
Back in 1916 silver perch were seen as a candidate for aquaculture.
In the early 1980's commercial production was trialled by the pioneers of a now well established industry.
The species has now been grown commercially for decades in many countries around the world.
The species is most popular in Asian countries.
They have the potential to grow to about 6-8 kilos. (Depending on which scientist you speak to.)
This is an Australian native species from the Murray Darling River Basin, the blue area in the map above.
The Murray/Darling Basin is the largest river basin in Australia, covering a very large inland area of Australia with a broad climate range.
Parts of the basin are quite arid.
Temperature ranges are broad and water chemistry varies considerably.
This all adds up to a sturdy fish that is not too demanding on the grower.
The Murray/Darling Basin is the largest river basin in Australia, covering a very large inland area of Australia with a broad climate range.
Parts of the basin are quite arid.
Temperature ranges are broad and water chemistry varies considerably.
This all adds up to a sturdy fish that is not too demanding on the grower.
Below is a tributary of the Murray river
Below 3 pictures of the mighty Murray River
Best results (growth) are achieved at optimum temperatures and water quality.
A temperature range between 23C and 28C is best, but they will tolerate as low as *2C and as high as 37C.
(*Fisheries Action Program Australian Department of Environment 2002.)
Professional growers achieve 600 to 800 grams in less than 18 months.
This is in Australia, where winter pond temperatures result in much slower growth than can be expected in a tropical climate.
They grow on a range of commercial diets, with a wide range of fat and protein contents.
Professional growers achieve 600 to 800 grams in less than 18 months.
This is in Australia, where winter pond temperatures result in much slower growth than can be expected in a tropical climate.
They grow on a range of commercial diets, with a wide range of fat and protein contents.
Silver perch are known to have very high levels of beneficial omega-3.
Research has shown they have one of the highest levels of omega-3 in seafood tested by the CSIRO.
It is noteworthy that the omega-3 content of the flesh will vary according to the diet used to grow the fish.
This means they not only are excellent table fish, but they are also very healthy to eat !
For a farm dam, Silver Perch can be stocked at about 300-400 per hectare if they are not fed, and up to 1000 per hectare if you can feed them regularly.
I recommended that, in dams, they be fed during the late afternoon.
When the shadows are across the water.
Feeding silver perch just before sunset will provide a spectacular display for your friends and visitors.
A great talking point for a barbie.
FOR THE FARM DAM
Silver Perch are omnivorous and will thrive in most farm dams.
Be sure to check local regulations before stocking any fingerlings into your dam anywhere within Australia.
For the Queensland information click here. You need to do your own research for other jurisdictions.
Silver perch definitely are NOT vegetarian, they are in fact omnivores.
However they are generally not considered to be predatory.
They will eat almost anything, animal or vegetable!
They will eat worms and most other aquatic life including weeds.
Should you add fingerlings in the future the older fish are very unlikely to eat the new fingerlings.
They readily take artificial food, such as aquaculture pellets, chook pellets or bread.
Bread or chook foods are not the best of diets for fish but will do in small quantities.
Aquaculture pellets are a properly balanced diet and fish will thrive on these commercially available foods.
As the Silver Perch soon come to know when they will be fed, they will be ready and waiting near the surface at feeding time.
I recommend silver perch be fed during the late afternoon when the shadows are across the water.
If they are fed early in the morning there is a risk that birds may eat your fish before you are up and about, especially in summer when it is light very early.
Remember the fish will be congregating in one spot waiting to be fed.
Feeding silver perch just before sunset will provide a spectacular display for your friends and visitors.
A great talking point for a barbie.
Any fisherman will tell you the best time to catch a fish is early in the morning, or in the evening as the sun is setting.
Australian perch do NOT like bright light.
An animals preferred activity time of the day can usually be broken down to three parts over 24 hours.
Nocturnal - active at night
Diurnal - active during the day
and
Crepuscular - active during the times between day and night, twilight periods.
Some light, but not bright light.
Silver perch prefer twilight periods.
They are generally Crepuscular.
Silver Perch that are being fed are very easy to catch, just add a hook to their food!?
Otherwise use worms fished on the bottom with a very light float.
On the table
Silver Perch are excellent eating but can sometimes have a weedy or muddy flavour.
It is best to hold live fish in very clean water for a week if the flavour is not pleasant.
Alternatively, only take fish for eating from your dam during dry spells when there is no run-off into the dam, and water is clear, not muddy or green. More information here
What do they like
Best temperature range 23C and 28C.
They will tolerate as low as 2C, and as high as 37C.
They will continue to grow well at temperatures above 15c.
Best pH range between 6.5 and 9.
Tolerate pH levels between 6 and 10
Salt Salinity levels of 5 grams per litre are safe.
Diet
Silver Perch are omnivorous and will thrive on most diets.
Although they might eat fish that can fit in their mouth, they are not really considered serious predators.
Should you add fingerlings to a dam in the future the older fish are very unlikely to eat the new fingerlings.
They readily take artificial food, such as aquaculture pellets, chook pellets or bread.
Bread or chook foods are not the best of diets for fish but will do in small quantities.
Aquaculture pellets are properly balanced diets that the fish will thrive on.
They will eat worms and most other aquatic life including aquatic weeds.