Variegated Pygmy Perch

Interesting Info

• The Variegated Pygmy Perch is a small freshwater fish species found in the Murray-Darling Basin of Australia.
• They have a slender, cylindrical body with a rounded snout and a small mouth. They have a distinctive coloration, with a greenish-yellow back, silver sides, and a white belly.
• Variegated Pygmy Perch feed on a range of aquatic invertebrates, including small crustaceans, insects, and mollusks. They are also known to consume algae and plant matter.
• They prefer slow-moving, shallow water with vegetation cover and sandy or gravelly substrates.
• The species is primarily active during the day, but they may become more nocturnal in response to predation pressure.
• The breeding season for Variegated Pygmy Perch is typically between November and February.
• They are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs that hatch externally, and can produce up to 300 eggs per spawning event. Males typically build a nest using plant matter and defend it against other males during breeding season.
• The species has a relatively short lifespan, living for only 2-3 years.