# European Perch (*Perca fluviatilis*) The European Perch is a colorful fish that has striking green and yellow stripes. It's a popular catch for fishermen! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Lakes and rivers - **Also known as:** Perca ![European Perch](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426808/objects/4676.jpg) ## Appearance The European Perch has a distinctive green body with 5-9 dark vertical stripes and bright red-orange pelvic and anal fins. Its two dorsal fins, the first spiny and the second soft, help differentiate it from other freshwater fish. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopteri - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Percidae - **Genus:** Perca ## Interesting facts - Perch eggs are laid in long, jelly-like ribbons wrapped around underwater plants! - The oldest recorded European Perch lived for an amazing 23 years! - Their eyes glow yellow or green in the dark, helping them see at dusk. - They sometimes form hunting 'pyramids' to catch smaller fish together. ## Special abilities - **Striped Camouflage:** European Perch has dark vertical stripes that help them blend perfectly with reeds and shadows in the water. - **Spiny Defense:** European Perch can raise its sharp, spiny dorsal fin to deter predators from trying to eat them. - **Adaptable Survivor:** European Perch can live in many types of water, from slow rivers to big lakes, adapting its behavior. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-50 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-3 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-15 years - **Swim Speed:** 10 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 30 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding Perch are hungry hunters, eating smaller creatures and even other fish! - **Age differences:** Young perch mostly eat invertebrates, while adults primarily hunt other fish. - **Primary Foods:** insect larvae, crustaceans, small fish, fish eggs - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Northern Pike](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-pike) (*Esox lucius*) — Pike are major predators of Perch in shared habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Zander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/zander) (*Sander lucioperca*) — Larger Zander will prey on Perch in many European waters. - **Eaten by:** [Osprey](https://www.snappit.app/explore/osprey) (*Pandion haliaetus*) — Ospreys catch Perch from the surface as a food source. - **Hunts:** [Roach](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roach) (*Rutilus rutilus*) — Adult Perch frequently prey on young Roach and their fry. - **Eats:** Water Flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — Juvenile Perch feed heavily on small zooplankton like water fleas. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Perch? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is European Perch? 15-50 cm ### How much does European Perch weigh? 0.1-3 kg ### How long does European Perch live? 5-15 years ### What does European Perch eat? Perch are hungry hunters, eating smaller creatures and even other fish! ### How fast can European Perch swim? 10 km/h ### Where is European Perch usually found? Lakes and rivers ### How does European Perch hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Hofgarten Schleißheim (Oberschleißheim)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hofgarten-schleissheim-oberschleissheim) — Bayern, DE · Park ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [European Perch: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-perch)