Perch
Perca fluviatilis
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Tiger-striped, red-finned and spiky-backed — one of the handsomest fish in the region's lochs.
A deep-bodied, striking fish: olive-green with five to nine bold dark vertical bars along the flank, bright orange-red pelvic and anal fins, and a spiny first dorsal fin that it raises when alarmed. Perch live in the lochs, ponds and slower reaches around Dumfries, often in shoals as juveniles and more solitary as they grow larger.
Behaviour
Young perch hunt in packs, herding small fish and fry into the shallows; older, larger fish become more solitary ambush predators, using weed beds, sunken timber and structure as cover. The vertical bars are camouflage against reeds and stems. Spawning is distinctive — the female drapes long, lace-like ribbons of eggs over submerged branches and weed in spring.
When to see it
Quick facts
- Family
- Perches (Percidae)
- Size
- Commonly 20–35 cm
- UK status
- Native; widespread in lochs and slow rivers
Photo by Dellex, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons