Redfin Perch - (Perca fluviatilis)
Attachment:
redfin_perch (Medium).jpg [ 54.14 KiB | Viewed 27473 times ]
Common Name:
English Perch
Other Names:
European perch, Redfin perch, Redfin
Family:
Percidae
Scientific Name:
Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758
Status:
Introduced
Description:
Redfin can be recognised by the following features:
... a deep body and a slightly forked tail;
... two distinctly separate dorsal fins, the first with 12-17 strong spines and a distinct black blotch at the rear;
... a pattern of five or more broad black vertical bands across the back, tapering on the sides (more prominent in younger fish);
... bright reddish-orange pelvic and anal fins and tail.
The body colour varies from olive green to grey on the back, fading to greenish or silvery on the sides and whitish on the belly.
Redfin can grow to 60 cm in length and around 10 kg in weight, but are more commonly found up to 45 cm and 1-2 kg.
Habitat:
Redfin live in a wide variety of habitats, but prefer still or slow-flowing waters such as lakes, dams, billabongs, swamps and slower moving streams and rivers. They prefer areas with good shelter such as snags (submerged dead wood and trees), vegetation or rocks, but have also been caught in open water.
Tolerances:
Temperature Range - <10°C with an upperwater temperature limit about 31°C.
pH Range - Unknown
Feeding:
Redfin perch are carnivorous and feed on a wide variety of foods ranging from small invertebrates (such as crustaceans, worms, molluscs and insect larvae) to fish. They are known to hunt fish either solitarily (by ambushing or stalking their prey) or in organised groups. In groups, they herd shoals of small fish until encircled or pinned against the bank; a few of the redfin then chase into the shoal while the majority hold position and prey on fleeing fish. Schools of redfin also use a similar method known as “beating”, where they flush out insects and small fish from weed beds or other shelter into open water, where they become easy prey for waiting redfin. Such methods give them their reputation as voracious predators.
Reproduction:
Spawning occurs at night in late winter and spring (mid August to late October) when water temperatures reach 12°C, in quiet areas away from fast currents.
They lay several hundred thousand eggs in a gelatinous ribbon amongst aquatic vegetation, submerged logs or other sheltered areas.
The egg mass is unpalatable to most other fish and is hence generally protected from predation.
Hatching occurs 7-8 days later, with juvenile fish schooling for some time to help avoid predation, before becoming solitary.
Redfin usually take 2-6 years to reach sexual maturity, but some have been found to be reproductively mature at 1 year of age.
Distribution:
Redfin Perch are distributed widely throughout NSW and Victoria. Substantial populations also occur in Tasmania and areas of WA...
NSW Distribution
Attachment:
redfin-distribution (Medium).jpg [ 60.54 KiB | Viewed 27217 times ]
less a few as fish food.
) Anybody with a definitive answer? and where can i getem?