Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've just approached a hatchery for info about Silvers and I have been told "Do you realise that silver perch are not a very good choice for raising in tanks. They don't grow so well in tanks. They also prefer temperatures around 25c. It may be a bit warm up there. Sleepy cod or jade perch are a better fish for tanks. (Jades are the best.)"

What do you reckon? Should I believe him and get Jades or go with the tough Silvers? Price is no different.

Reading on Jades says optimal temp range is 22-28, and Silvers tolerance is 2-35 (optimal 20-30).

Help!

I think Muzza has been very happy with his Jades... But so far as silvers not growing well in tanks, I think they must be people that haven't grown silvers in tank, mine are growing very well, but then my climate is much different to yours Jaymie.

Jaymie, VB has a mix of Jade and Silvers and to my knowledge is having no probs with either, check his system thread for more info and I would say he will clarify later (I am of the same opinion as EB's - the bloke has not tried AP style)

Les

I think Townsville is up north?

If so, i'd go for the silvers as it gets so hot up there. But ask them to throw a few Jades in, it was their idea to get Jades after all, and see how they fare.

yes Townsville is north, 4 hours south of Cairns, 14 hours north of Brisbane.
the man in question is a forum member

AM - fair go mate????

I'd go the jades, they really need say 5C (approx) warmer temps than silvers to stack on the weight, and i assume that theri tolerance range as far as the upper limit would be close to the silver perch.

My climate is too cold for them, i won't be getting them again. Silvers better for me down here.

Silvers and jades are FINE in tanks, even in my 200Lt aquarium with 7 medium (now, were fingerlings not too long ago), jades

I'd try both so taht you know what to get next time. I also think that the temperature ranges often quoted may not fully apply in our systems. Why? I am no sure - but my Jades feed fine at 18 degrees, but this is not meant to happen. Steve has had a different experience.

I think we might go for a mix, to compare the eating (in a coupla months), to compare their living habits, to compare the survivability of both species in a tank in North Queensland

We've had our Jade Perch for nearly 8 weeks. During that time, they've shown themselves to be hardy little characters. Aside from five that were dead on arrival.....and another one that somersalted out of the tank.....we've not had any casualties.

GD did you get your jades from SEQFish, thinking of doing a trip down there one day for a purchase and gander

Did a massive water change on friday night in the outdoor tank to bring the nitrate levels down to managebale levels.

I did this for two reasons,

one my algae growths was off the scale, even with having the tank covered in black plastic for two (or three ?) weeks straight, it seems that the minimal light geiing in from the 1 foot side wall was enough to sustain it.

Two, my indoor perch tank routinly reaches upto 300PPM nitrates (no plants) and i notice that the fish stop feeding at this point even though the temp is around 24C

To set the scene i might trow in a very small hand full of feed into my tank every 3 days or so, and was never sure if it was eatcn or if it just sank, as i never saw any of my fish.

I resorted to using a big net one day to make sure they wer still alive!

Anyway my nitrates are soo high becasue i waited sooo long before planting my bed out, and also i don't have a huge abount growing ATM while i convert to flood and drain.

Tried feeding the fish this morning, water temp was at 19C. Man what a flurry of activity at the surface! could see the 3 goldies swimming in procession, and jades attacking the pellets.

just another little 'discovery'

I'm much happier now, my jades have started the race late, (there only about twice the size that i got them) but i'll give them a good feeding They already ate three hand fulls of food today.

Good - another little morsel I shall tuck away and check on regularly

It's a bugger not being able to see whether the fish have eaten the food. Makes it very difficult to know when to stop feeding/how much to feed. I have found that the amount that my fish will eat varies significantly from time to time - eventhough water conditions are always good.

the trout pellets i have are about 85% float, and they were gone within minutes today.

Worms are harder. But there are floating worm feeder trays you can get. just chuck a hand full in and they sort of dangle out, tempting the fish.