Siniperca chuatsi is a large fish for display aquariums. The maximum length reported to date is 70 cm, at which point the animal weighs around 8 kg. Of course, most specimens remain significantly smaller, but Siniperca chuatsi is still only suitable for normal aquariums as a young fish for a limited time.
Siniperca are obligate predators that feed almost exclusively on fish. They can swallow surprisingly large chunks. In the case of slender prey fish, these can be up to 2/3 of the body length of the Siniperca – they are swallowed very quickly. S. chuatsi is a stalker that slowly approaches its prey in the darkest coloration and then strikes with lightning speed. It does not always catch its prey head first. Under certain circumstances, it may have to spit out spiny prey and try again.
In its native China, S. chuatsi is a very popular food fish and has therefore been kept and bred in aquaculture for around 200 years. Of course, this occasionally results in color mutants, including albinos. These albinos are highly sought after by some predatory fish enthusiasts and fetch high prices (at least here in Europe).
As a fish of the northern temperate zone (from the Amur in Russia to the Pearl River in China), S. chuatsi does not need heating. It begins to feed at a water temperature of around 15°C, and the temperature should not rise significantly above 25°C if possible. S. chuatsi has a high oxygen requirement, especially after a hearty meal, so this should be taken into account. Otherwise, the water values are irrelevant. In the wild, Siniperca is a river fish. Despite their “barramundi appearance,” Siniperca are most closely related to the sunfish of North America and not to barramundi or giant perch (Lates & Co.).
For our customers: normal-colored Siniperca chuatsi have code 455281 (10-12 cm) and albinos 455284 (18-20 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale customers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
