Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)

Scientific name: Bidyanus bidyanus Mitchell, 1838

The Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) is a freshwater fish of the family Terapontidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 10–30°C (50–86°F).

Silver perch care at a glance

Temperature: 10–30°C (50–86°F)

Biology

Adults are found in rivers, lakes and reservoirs, preferring fast-flowing waters of rapids and races and usually forming aggregations near the surface. Usually found below rapids and weirs. Feed on aquatic insects, mollusks, earthworms and plants. Temp.: 2-37?C. Maturity: F, 3 y and 34 cm SL; M, 23.3 cm SL. Spawning: summer (Nov.-Jan., 23-30?C water temp.), effect upstream migration. Fecundity: 500000 eggs per 1.8kg. Eggs: pelagic, 2.7-2.8 mm diameter. Hatching: 30 hrs at 26-27?C. Larvae: 3.6 mm at hatching. Eggs are guarded and fanned by the male parent. A good angling and food fish which has been increasingly utilized as an aquaculture species in farm dams throughout Australia.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Bidyanus bidyanus
Family: Terapontidae (Grunters or tigerperches)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 40.0
Common length: 30.0
Depth range: 10 m (33 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous; depth range 10 - ? m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Oceania: known only from the Murray-Darling River system, Australia. Range boundaries: Chinchilla (on the Condamine River), South Queensland, Bonshaw (on the Dumaresq River), northeastern New South Wales, Albury (on the Murray River), southeastern New South Wales, Seven Creek and Goulburn River, South Victoria.
Conservation status (IUCN): Vulnerable (VU) (A1cd)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-3)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026