European perch
Perca fluviatilis
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 50–72°F
- 10–22°C
- pH
- 6.5–8.0
- Adult size
- 19.7 in
- 50 cm
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal
- 450 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Egg layer · Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Percidae
- Origin
- Europe
Overview
The European perch is a large coldwater predator that is best left to big coldwater or pond setups. It suits a keeper with a little experience and a lot of room.
Did you know
European perch hunt cooperatively as juveniles, with whole shoals herding smaller fish, which is unusual behavior for a freshwater predator. As they grow, that teamwork fades, and big perch become loners that will happily eat the smaller perch they once schooled with.
Caring for the European perch
Plan for at least 119 gal (450 L) for a European perch, and realistically far more for an adult. It needs a big, unheated setup with strong filtration, not a tropical community tank. Give it open swimming space with some cover.
Keep the water cool, at 50 to 72°F (10 to 22°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Feed meaty foods that match its natural prey of smaller fish, crustaceans, insects and larvae.
It is a predator, not a community fish, and it will swallow any tank mate it can fit in its mouth. Adults turn solitary and territorial. Perch are heavy spawners, but breeding them is hard. Females lay thousands of eggs in long, gelatinous ribbons, draped over plants and branches in spring.
Good to know
European perch belong to the family Percidae and carry dark vertical bars and a spiny first dorsal fin. They can weigh over 4 kg, though most stay smaller. The IUCN lists them as Least Concern, with stable populations.
In the wild
European perch live across Europe and northern Asia in lakes, rivers, ponds and reservoirs. They like clear, cool water with some vegetation and a rocky or sandy bottom.
Common questions
What size tank does a European perch need?
A European perch needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a European perch need?
A European perch is comfortable at 50–72°F (10–22°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.
What does a European perch eat?
A European perch eats smaller fish, crustaceans, insects and larvae. Feed it meaty foods that match that natural prey.
How big does a European perch get?
An adult European perch reaches about 19.7 in (50 cm).
How does a European perch breed?
European perch are heavy spawners, but breeding them is hard. Females lay thousands of eggs in long, gelatinous ribbons draped over plants and branches in spring.
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