Maturation

Eggs hatch in eight to ten days, depending on water temperature. No parental care is given to the young. They are transparent when hatched and remain inactive for several days while they absorb their yolk sac. The young grow quickly and when they are ready to move they school together loosely. They roam shallow shoreline waters feeding during daylight hours.

With increasing size, perch feed on insects and their larvae, crayfish, snails, and a great variety of other invertebrate. During daylight they feed in deeper waters, but around dusk they move towards shore to feed on bait such as minnows. Life expectancy is high, with some fish enjoying longevity to the ripe old age of 11 years plus, even though this species tends to harbor more parasites than most. These parasites are generally not harmful to humans and are easily destroyed when fish are cooked well.

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