Heading. Basin Fish.Heading. P-Z of Native Fish.
 

Image. Silver Perch. Bidyanus bidyanus.
Link. About the Name.

  

Name. Silver Perch.
Scientific Name. Bidyanus bidyanus.
 

How Big?		  
Found Where?
How Many?   Lives Where?
Eats What?   Reproduces How?
Moves Where?   Eaten By People?
Main Threats?   Are We Helping?

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Heading. How Big Does it Grow?
.
Silver Perch grow 30-40 cm in length and average 0.75-1.5 kg in weight. Although one large fish caught weighed 8 kg. Silver Perch can live for up to 27 years.

 Heading. Where is it Found?
Silver Perch are found in most of the Murray-Darling Basin, except for the upper parts of streams.
 
Image. Silver Perch Distribution Map.

 Heading. How Many Are There?
IN THE PAST
There were more Silver Perch around years ago than there are now, but they were probably always only found in patches.
TODAY
There are less Silver Perch now and, in places, they are considered rare. They are listed as ‘endangered’ in the Australian Capital Territory, and they are ‘critically endangered’ in Victoria.

 Heading. What Habitats Does it Use?
.
Heading. Large-Scale Habitats.
Image. Habitat - Plains. Image. Habitat - Lakes and Dams.
PLAINS LAKES AND DAMS
Silver Perch live in rivers and creeks on slopes, tablelands and plains in lakes, dams and large wetlands. They can survive in a wide range of water temperatures.
 
Heading. Small-Scale Habitats.
Image. Habitat - Riffles and Rapids. Image. Habitat - Billabongs.
RIFFLES AND RAPIDS BILLABONGS
Silver Perch can be found in some warm still-water habitats but they are more commonly found in fast-flowing waters with rapids and races. They can also live where the water is quite muddy.

 Heading. How Does it Mate and Reproduce?
MATING
Silver Perch gather in groups of about 50 - 70 before spawning. Males can reproduce at 3 years old and females when they are 5 years old.
SPAWNING
Spawning takes place in spring and summer (October - December) after the fish have moved a long way from their original habitat. Spawning occurs near the surface of the water at sunset or sunrise.
EGGS
Female Silver Perch release more than 300,000 eggs that can float a little. The eggs are transparent, non-sticky and round.
JUVENILES
Silver Perch larvae hatch after about 31 hours and when the water temperature is about 26°C. They are 3-6 mm long when they hatch. They may grow to weigh as much as 300 g in the first year.

 Heading. What Does It Eat?
Silver Perch eat plants and animals, such as small aquatic insects, molluscs, earthworms and green algae.
Image. Silver Perch What Does It Eat?

 Heading. Where Does it Move?
Adult Silver Perch move long distances upstream (sometimes more than 1,000 km) after floods to spawn. Young fish are known to move upstream during the day after small rises in river level. Little is known about the movements of adults when they are not spawning.
 Heading. Do People Eat Them?
Heading. Fisheries.
Heading. Commercial.
IN THE PAST
Silver Perch numbers have gone down in inland fisheries since the early 1900s.
TODAY
There is now no inland wild fishery in New South Wales. Silver Perch are grown and sold in fish farms.
Heading. Recreational.
IN THE PAST
Silver Perch were probably eaten by Aborigines and early European settlers.
TODAY
Silver Perch have been stocked in lakes and dams for recreational fishing purposes. It is a good fish to catch and eat.
Heading. Fishing.
LEGAL SIZES
Sometimes there are limits on the size of Silver Perch that can be caught.

ACT: Protected in this State
NSW: At least 25 cm in length
Qld.: At least 30 cm in length
SA: Protected in this State
Vic.: No limits
CATCH LIMITS
Sometimes there are limits on the number of Silver Perch that can be caught.

ACT: Protected in this State
NSW: A limit of 0 fish in rivers, and 5 fish in dams
Qld.: A limit of 10 fish
SA: Protected in this State
Vic.: No limits
CLOSED SEASONS
Sometimes Silver Perch can only be caught at certain times of the year.

ACT: Protected in this State
NSW: Anytime
Qld.: Anytime
SA: Protected in this State
Vic.: No netting from the last Sunday in August to the last Friday in November
BAIT
Silver Perch are caught using worms, grubs, prawns and yabbies. Spinning lures are used in rivers and diving lures in lakes and dams.

 Heading. What Are the Main Threats to This Fish?
Image. Threats - Fish Movement.
FISH MOVEMENT
Barriers in the river, such as dams and weirs, can make it difficult for the Silver Perch to move to the areas where it spawns.
Image. Threats - Water Quality.
WATER QUALITY
The release of cold water from large dams can make it harder for Silver Perch to survive and breed. Silver Perch, and many other species of fish, are sensitive to rapid changes in water temperature.
Image. Threats - Alien Species.
ALIEN SPECIES
Redfin often eat young Silver Perch.

 Heading. How Are We Helping?
Farming of Silver Perch began in the 1980s. Fish are grown in earthen ponds and sold as whole, live, fish. From 1995 - 1999 more than 1,390,000 young Silver Perch were released in lakes and dams in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria to restock them for recreational fishers. Young Silver Perch are released when about 32 mm long and about 5-8 weeks old.
RECOVERY PLANS
Silver Perch can be successfully raised by aquaculture. This is because Silver Perch:
- Have been farmed for some time now.
- Are hardy and survive well in
  hatcheries, farm ponds and dams.
- Grow quickly.
- Eat all kinds of foods, both plant and
  animal.
- Do not eat each other.
- Can be treated for most of the diseases
  they are known to catch.
- Do not have too many bones.
- Can be transported alive.
Farmed Silver Perch can also be returned to the wild to increase numbers.

Page Last Updated: 10 Aug 2006 16:47