Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

I have 25 SP about 9 months old now.

Since it turned cold about 2 months ago, the have really gone off their food and now just sit on the bottom of the tank in a huddle all day.

I feed them once a week, the same amount as I used to feed them once a day and they don't even eat that.

They used to go crazy at the surface as I was feeding them, but not anymore.

Every time I look in the tank, they are all just sitting on the bottom in a bunch near the pump. Even when the pump kicks in, they don't even move.

Yes, they are alive!

Should I be concerned?

Thanks.

Don't worry that's normal for silvers in winter if they are big enough to survive winter they will start eating again
alternate take them out and put them in an inside tank and warm it a bit
One year I put mine in an aquarium to get them through

I'd say they are about 10cm.

I guess I'm more concerned that they just seem to sit on the bottom all the time and not swim around... Is this normal as well?

Cheers.

Silvers can be sooks and sit at the bottom of your tank (usually trying to hide behind your pump if its in your fish tank).

Yep, the guys are right. Silvers are a warm water fish. I alternate my feed with prawn, yabbie, lettuce and worms in the winter as they go off the pellet.

A bit of scrambled egg they like as well but whatever you try to feed them with in winter don't overdo it

This is typical SP behavior during winter in Perth. Keep feeding to a minimum.

How cold can the water get before I will see loses with Silver Perch?

They can live in waters down to 2 degrees and above 35.