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Freshwater Fish of Victoria - Agassiz's Chanda Perch | FN0065 |
Charles Barnham PSM
April, 1998 |  |
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Common Name:
Agassiz's Chanda Perch
Other Name/s:
Silver sprat, doody, glassfish, Western chanda perch
Family:
Ambassidae
Scientific Name:
Ambassis agassizii (Steindachner, 1867)
Status:
Native
Agassiz's Chanda Perch is listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Under this legislation, the taking, possession or trading of Agassiz's Chanda Perch is prohibited without a permit, license or Governor-in-Council Order issued under the Act. Departmental research and management activities have been authorised by a Governor-in-Council Order. A Recreational Fishing Licence is not a permit under the Act.
Description
Large eye, with hollow area between and above eyes. Large mouth, pointing upwards, which does not reach the rear edge of the eye. Large scales on body, and two rows of scales on the cheeks below the eyes. Eye silvery. Scales also on gill covers. Second spine of dorsal fin is longest. Deeply forked tail with rounded tips. Yellowish-silver body with a thin, dark streak along the side of the body at the rear. Scales on the back and some scales on the sides have dark edges. Fins usually colourless, with some small black dots.
Distribution
Only record in Victoria is from irrigation channels near Mildura in the 1920's, and the fish is now presumed to be extinct in Victoria. Reported as abundant in the Murray River system in 1856.
Habitat
Warm rivers, streams and billabongs and associated waters where there is plenty of weed cover.
Brief Biology
Known to reach 6.5 cm, little is known about the life history. Breeds in ponds after rises in water level during November-December at water temperatures of about 23oC. Carnivorous, taking aquatic insects, and is reported as an avid feeder on mosquito larvae.
Other Notes
Occurs throughout the Murray-Darling system, being abundant in northern New South Wales and Queensland. Attractive aquarium fish.
Freshwater Fish of Victoria
is a series of brief information material on the native and introduced freshwater fish of Victoria's inland waters. Further, detailed reading on Agassiz's Chanda Perch is contained in:
Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia
R M McDowall (Ed.)
A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria
Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse,
Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes
John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria
J D Koehn, W G O'Connor
FOV #25 - Agassiz's Chanda Perch
Prepared with the assistance of Gary Backhouse, Phillip Cadwallader and Tarmo Raadik.
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
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