Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

This is one of the large silver perch from one of my systems. I noticed a couple of weeks back that one of them looked a little unusual, it was pale compared with the others, and wasn't as keen on the feed. I didn't think any more of it, until last night when it floated up to the surface..

I left it out so that I could take a picture in the morning, only some animal came duging the night and took some bites out of it's back.

I've had this one for probably about 8-9 years and Carl suggested that it could pretty much be old age that killed it. The others all seem fine, not off their feed at all and looking healthy.

You sure you wern't drunk and trying to eat it raw

Na, wasn't that hungry... He was a bit smelly, reckon he had been on the bottom a few days before floating up. Very hard to see that complete tank as it's in the shade and has floating rafts on the fish tank..

First fish I've lost out of that system in about 3-4 years I reckon.

Might have to look at retiring a few of the older ones to the BBQ.

What was the weight and length Joel ?

I'll try and do some measurements when I get home just before I dig a hole for him... Might be a little difficult, I'm sure he's even pongier by now...

Plant something over the top of him. Fish go great under new trees.

I dunno, but I doubt old age. Fish just die sometimes.

Wonder how long SP live?

1.85kg, not quite as heavy as I thought, but then he's not the biggest one I have. Didn't have a ruler at home ...

Mate the GWH put 100 SP in a dam in 1998/9 (he can't quite remember)and they are still there, over 11years or so they have hooked about 20 is all, the last ones I saw was summer this year and would have been just over a kilo avg, they have never been hand fed anything, suspect they are living off baby marron, you can see a few jumping at sunset generally so we know they are there, and a pig to catch, dam is huge and deep so dragging not an option, last lot caught were caught at dusk and with live gambusia, bloke caught 6 but they seem to cotton about the line fairly quick