HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishLittle weed whiting Little weed whiting (Neoodax balteatus) Scientific name: Neoodax balteatus Valenciennes, 1840 The Little weed whiting (Neoodax balteatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Odacidae. Native range: Eastern Indian Ocean, southern Australia, from Cockburn Sound, Western Australia to north of Sydney, New South Wales; including Tasmania. BiologyFound mainly in estuaries and sheltered inshore waters at depths usually less than 15 m; also found in grass beds and common around shallow rocky reefs.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameNeoodax balteatusFamilyOdacidae (Cales and weed-whitings)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length14.0Depth range1–22 m (3–72 ft)EnvironmentMarine; brackish; demersal; depth range 1 - 22 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionEastern Indian Ocean: southern Australia, from Cockburn Sound, Western Australia to north of Sydney, New South Wales; including Tasmania.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More other freshwater fishFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusLined soleAchirus lineatusSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026