Balston's pygmy perch

📖 Overview

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 . Co-occurs with Edelia vittata over part of its range, but is generally more scarce . Aquarium conditions: pH=7.2, H=8, 24°C water temperature, rock and plant cover, carnivore, peaceful community fish, egg layer .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Balston's pygmy perch is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Balston's pygmy perch is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 6.5; dH range: 5 - 10. Temperate; 15°C - 30°C ; 31°S - 34°S southwest Australia between Two People Bay (near Albany) and the Blackwood River.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 9 records indexed .

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