Western Pygmy Perch

Interesting Info

• The Western Pygmy Perch is a tiny freshwater fish found only in southwestern Western Australia, making it an endemic species.
• Their body is deep and short, coloured golden-brown to olive with darker mottling. The species name vittata means “striped,” referring to the faint vertical banding often visible on their sides.
• Males develop brighter reddish-orange fins during breeding season, making them more colourful than females.
• They live in lakes, rivers, billabongs, swamps, and seasonal wetlands, preferring areas with aquatic plants, woody debris, or leaf litter for cover.
• Young perch feed on plankton and tiny insects, while adults eat insect larvae, crustaceans, and small aquatic invertebrates.
• Once widespread in WA’s wetlands, their numbers have declined in some areas due to wetland drainage, habitat modification, and competition with introduced species like gambusia.
• Breeding takes place in spring and early summer (September–December) when water warms above 16°C. Females lay small batches of adhesive eggs on vegetation, and males guard the spawning sites.
• Lifespan is short — usually 2–4 years, though they may live longer in cooler, undisturbed waters.