Balston's pygmy perch (Nannatherina balstoni)

Scientific name: Nannatherina balstoni Regan, 1906

The Balston's pygmy perch (Nannatherina balstoni) is a freshwater fish of the family Percichthyidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 15–30°C (59–86°F).

Balston's pygmy perch care at a glance

Temperature
15–30°C (59–86°F)

Biology

Is the rarest of all the endemic freshwater fishes of southwestern Australia. Inhabits coastal streams, lakes, ponds and swamps, where the water is dark and acidic (pH as low as 3.0) and has a large seasonal fluctuation in temperature (11-30?C). Favors shallow water and is commonly found in association with tall sedge thickets. Larva feeds mainly on cladocerans, copepods and dipteran larvae, while juveniles and adults ingest mostly terrestrial fauna. Breeds in the middle of winter in response to flooding. Female lays between 500-1600 eggs each. The majority of adult perishes shortly after spawning at the end of their first year. Both male and female attain sexual maturity at the end of their first year of life when they have attained an average TL of 6.0 and 6.3 cm respectively.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Nannatherina balstoni
Family
Percichthyidae (Temperate perches)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
9.0
Common length
6.0
Environment
Freshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 6.5; dH range: 5 - 10 benthopelagic
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Oceania: coastal drainages of southwest Australia between Two People Bay (near Albany) and the Blackwood River. Also reported from the Goodga River to Gin Gin Brook, western Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=1; K=1.31-1.69; Tmax=3; mean Fec=1243;)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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