Golden+Perch

Golden Perch
Here is the script Bess and Natalie used while presenting the Golden Perch


 * Golden Perch Script**

Nat: Thanks, and our next animal is the Golden Perch. It’s scientific name is the Maquaria Ambigua. More common names for the perch, are Yellowbelly, callop and Murray Perch.

Bess: It’s commonly 40 to 50 cm and around 5 kg, but can grow up to 75cm and 23 kg. It is mostly found in warm, sluggish inland waters and associated waters and billabongs. A standard perch can stand temperatures from 4 to 37 degrees, although if the water isn’t over 18 degrees, the fish won’t grow.

Nat: The Yellowbelly is carnivorous, mainly eating Yabbies and shrimps, insects, molluscs and small fish. It’s a great fish to eat, (especially when between 1 and 2 kg. Larger fish carry more fat, but this can easily be removed before or after cooking. This is why the species is quite threatened.

Bess: The Callop’s relatives are the Silver Perch and the Australia Bass. The Callop’s colours can be from a dull, dark colour to bright scales. Normally, the have a dark brown to olive green back, shading to yellow or white towards the belly. Adults have a high-humped back and stumpy tails. They have sharp teeth for ripping their food.

Nat: Does anyone here go fishing, (or your parents) and brought home a Golden Perch? I hope not.

Bess: And if you ever do, try to throw it back, because this fish is quite threatened.

Nat: Yes, when I was searching information on the Perch, I saw a lot of cooking ideas and recipies for it.

Bess: Ooh, that’s not very good.

Nat: No. A normal mature female can produce as many as 5 hundred thousand eggs. Spawning is recorded to occur at night, from spring to summer when water temperatures are between 23 and 26 degrees. Spawning appears to happen while rising water levels. The Yellowbelly’s will not spawn unless yabbies are a part of the diet though. They don’t usually spawn in dams.

Bess: 5 hundred thousand eggs! We will finish telling you about the Golden Perch with a short slide show.

Nat: Thank you!

Here are some pictures of the Perch