Australian bass (Macquaria australasica)

Scientific name: Macquaria australasica Cuvier, 1830

The Australian bass (Macquaria australasica) is a freshwater fish of the family Percichthyidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 4–25°C (39–77°F).

Australian bass care at a glance

Temperature: 4–25°C (39–77°F)

Biology

Occurs in lakes and flowing streams usually in deep holes with rock or gravel substrates. Inhabits cool, clear water of rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Prefers slow-flowing, deep rocky pools. Solitary, swimming near the bottom or in mid-water, but form small shoals during the spawning season (October to December). Forms large shoals near shore. Fry feeds on zooplankton; adult on aquatic insects, crustaceans and mollusks. Male matures at 20 cm (2 y), female at 30 cm (3 y). Spawns upstream in spring or early summer; eggs hatch in 13-18 days; larvae of 7 cm TL. Moves into areas just upstream of shallow riffles over gravel or rocky bottoms to spawn. The female releases demersal eggs which sink into cracks in the substrate. Fish in reservoirs move into flowing feeder streams to spawn. Sexual maturity is reached after 2 ye

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Macquaria australasica
Family: Percichthyidae (Temperate perches)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 46.0
Common length: 23.0
Depth range: 0–4 m (0–13 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous; depth range 0 - 4 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Oceania: Once widely distributed in the Murray-Darling basin and southeastern coastal drainages. Now reduced to cooler upper reaches of Murray-Darling basin, New South Wales, Australia. Introduced in the Wannon, Barwon, Yarra Rivers (Victoria) and the Nepean and Shoalhaven Rivers (New South Wales), Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-3)