Golden Perch 4cm

Golden Perch

For anglers and aquarists alike, the Golden Perch is a prized freshwater fish native to Australia. Renowned for its vibrant coloration and ambush predator-style behaviour, this species brings a touch of the Australian outback to home aquariums. With proper care, the Golden Perch can thrive and become a captivating centrepiece in a species-specific setup.

The Golden Perch is the perfect predator fish with its camo-like colours, stocky body shape, and a large mouth that acts like a vacuum when feeding. As their name suggests they have a golden-yellow body with subtle hints of bronze and olive. Additionally, the fish features distinct dark markings along its lateral line, adding depth and contrast to its overall appearance. These markings tend to become more prominent as the fish matures. With their active and inquisitive nature, Golden Perch exhibit a lot of slow moving and calculated behaviours, making them a delight to observe in a larger aquarium.

Golden perch can be bred in the home aquarium setting but it really does require a dedicated setup. These fish can take up to 4 years to reach maturity and are often always bred in a commercial hatchery setting. A large female can scatter around 500,000 eggs which can make them quite impractical to breed in an aquarium, there are also no distinguishing factors.

Tank Recommendations for your Golden Perch

Golden perch max out at around 50 cm with a hefty body which makes them a large fish. Their activity level, size, and temperament make them fish that need a large aquarium with the bare minimum volume being 300 litres however a larger aquarium will always be better. Golden perch can be kept solitary but can also tolerate other tank mates that match or excel their size.

Because of their ambush nature giving them a lot of overhangs and darker spots in the tank will really show off their behaviours. The substrate of the aquarium is not a large concern, a loose sandy substrate with smooth river stones and the use of driftwood would give a great river aesthetic.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Golden perch are not aggressive like cichlids however they are predatory and will eat any fish that can fit in their mouth.

Usually Compatible

Jade perch, barramundi, tandanus catfish, peacock bass, jaguar cichlids and larger predator species

Sometime Compatible

Silver perch, Macquarie perch, Oscar, Jack Dempsey, and less tempered species.

Rarely Compatible

Australian rainbows or smaller species which would absolutely be a meal for Golden Perch

Feeding your Golden Perch

Since these golden perch were born in a hatchery setting, they should eat prepared foods like pellets quite easily. Feeding something like a slow-sinking cichlid carnivore pellet would work best. They can also be supplemented with frozen goods and fresh seafood.