European perch

The perch is a green fish.

It has dark stripes on its side. It also has red fins.

This fish lives in lakes and rivers. It likes slow water. It does not like cold or fast water.

Perch eat other small things. Young perch eat tiny bugs. Big perch eat other fish.

Female perch lay white eggs. The eggs look like a long ribbon. They stick to plants in the water.

Some birds eat the perch. Large fish also eat them. It is a busy life for a fish!

The European perch is a fish that lives in fresh water.

You can find them in lakes and slow rivers. They like shallow water where light can reach the bottom. They are greenish in color. They also have red fins. Many perch have dark stripes on their sides.

Perch are carnivores. This means they eat meat. Young perch eat tiny bugs called zooplankton. As they grow, they start eating other fish. Adults like to eat small fish like minnows.

Female perch lay eggs in the water. The eggs look like a long white ribbon. This ribbon can be one meter long. The eggs stick to water plants.

After eight to sixteen days, the eggs hatch.

Many animals eat the perch. Some birds, like the kingfisher, hunt them. Large fish like the northern pike also eat them. In Finland, the perch is the national fish. People in Europe also catch them to eat. Their white meat is very tasty.

The European perch is a famous predatory fish. It lives in fresh water across Europe and North Asia.

You can find them in deep lakes or slow rivers. They like shallow water where light can reach the bottom. These fish can live for up to 22 years. Large perch often have a hump behind their heads.

Some perch grow very large in the Baltic Sea. In 2010, a fish was caught in the Meuse river in the Netherlands. It was 53 centimeters long and weighed 2.5 kilograms.

Perch have a specific way they grow and eat. Young perch eat tiny water bugs called zooplankton. When they reach a size of about 5 centimeters, they start eating other fish.

Adults eat many things like minnows and roach. Females lay eggs in the water to make new fish. They lay a white ribbon of eggs on water plants. This ribbon can be up to one meter long. The eggs hatch after 8 to 16 days.

People have studied these fish for a long time. Peter Artedi first described the river perch in 1730. He studied perch from lakes in Sweden. He counted their fins, scales, and bones. Later, Carl Linnaeus gave them the scientific name Perca fluviatilis in 1758. This name was based on the work of Artedi. Scientists sometimes think the yellow perch is a close relative. They can even cross-breed with each other.

Perch are part of a large food web. Many animals hunt them for food. Birds like the kingfisher and the western osprey eat them. The great cormorant also hunts these fish. Even the Dalmatian pelican eats them. Other animals like the Eurasian otter hunt them too. Large fish like the northern pike are also predators. This makes the perch an important part of their home.

Humans also have a strong link to the perch. It is the national fish of Finland. Many people catch them for fun or for food. In 2013, people caught 28,920 tonnes of perch. Russia and Finland catch the most. The meat is white, firm, and tasty. People like to fry or grill it. You can even see the perch on the coat of arms for the town of Bad Buchau.

The European perch, known scientifically as Perca fluviatilis, is a predatory freshwater fish. It is the type species for the genus Perca. These fish are native to Europe and North Asia. They are very important to many ecosystems. Many people also enjoy catching them for fun. They are considered a popular game fish for recreational anglers.

Perch have a very specific way of growing and eating. Young perch start by eating zooplankton. They also eat bottom invertebrates and other perch fry. When they reach about 5 centimeters, they become fingerlings. At this stage, they begin eating other fish. Adults eat invertebrates and fish like minnows or roach. This diet helps them grow quite large.

Reproduction for the perch follows a seasonal cycle. In the Northern Hemisphere, they spawn between February and July. Males become sexually mature between one and two years of age. Females take longer, reaching maturity between two and four years. Males reach spawning areas first to court mates. They do this by chasing females through underwater vegetation. The female then lays a white ribbon of eggs. This ribbon can be up to one meter long. It is attached to water plants or submerged branches. The eggs hatch after 8 to 16 days.

Scientists have studied the perch for centuries. Peter Artedi provided the first scientific description in 1730. He studied perch from Swedish lakes to find their features. He counted their fins, scales, and vertebrae. In 1758, Carl Linnaeus gave them the name Perca fluviatilis. He used Artedi's research for his description. Some scientists believe the yellow perch is a subspecies of the European perch. This is because they look similar and can cross-breed.

These fish can vary greatly in size depending on their home. They can live for up to 22 years. The maximum recorded length is not listed, but they grow large. A record fish from Finland was caught on September 4, 2010. In January 2010, a perch was caught in the Meuse river in the Netherlands. That fish was 53 centimeters long and weighed 2.5 kilograms. In the Baltic Sea, perch are very abundant. They grow large there because they eat Baltic herring.

Perch are a vital part of the food web. They are frequent prey for many different predators. Birds like the western osprey and great cormorant hunt them. The kingfisher also eats perch. Even the Dalmatian pelican relies on them for food. Other predators include the northern pike and the Eurasian otter. Some parasites also live inside them. These include various nematodes and cestodes, which are types of worms.

Humans use the perch for food and sport. The flesh is white, firm, and flaky. It is often fried or grilled. In 2013, FAO statistics show that 28,920 tonnes were caught. Russia caught the most at 15,242 tonnes. Finland followed with 7,666 tonnes. The perch is also the national fish of Finland. It appears on the coat of arms for towns like Bad Buchau.

While they are useful in Europe, they can be a problem elsewhere. The perch has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In Australia, they are known as "redfin." They have caused damage to native fish populations. They are even linked to the decline of the endangered Macquarie perch. In New South Wales, they are even called a noxious species. This shows how moving animals can change an environment.