Australian bass

Quick facts

Adult size

35 cm, 700 g typical harvest weight

Days to harvest

540 to 1095 days from fingerling

Lifespan (max)

up to 22 years

Diet

carnivore

Temperature class

cool-water

Difficulty

intermediate

Water parameters

Temperature range

12–28°C (optimum 22°C)

pH

6.5 to 8.5

Hardness

5 to 25 dGH

Minimum tank

400 L per individual at harvest size

Feed and growth

Feed protein

42% target

Daily feed (warm water)

1.10% of body weight per day

Daily feed (cool water)

0.60% of body weight per day

Max stocking density

35 g per litre of system water

A 700g adult eats about 7.7 g of feed per day at optimum temperature. For a roster of 10 fish at adult size, that's around 77 g of feed daily.

Legality

Aquaculture and possession rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. This table reflects regulations as of the verified date on each row. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.

Jurisdictions not listed here default to "check local regulations". A non-listing is not a green light; rules in your specific county or municipality may apply.

Habitat and origin

Native to coastal river systems along eastern Australia, from the Bundaberg region in Queensland south through New South Wales to eastern Victoria. The species (Percalates novemaculeatus, formerly Macquaria novemaculeata) is a highly regarded recreational sport fish in eastern Australia, prized for its fighting qualities on light tackle and its clean, white, firm flesh. Wild populations are catadromous: adults live in freshwater rivers and impoundments but migrate downstream to estuarine brackish water to spawn during winter (June-August) flood events. In aquaculture, the species can be grown entirely in freshwater throughout its life cycle. Adults reach 2–3 kg in the wild, though culture harvest size is typically 300–500 g at 18-24 months. The species is slow-growing compared to barramundi and silver perch, which limits its commercial aquaculture appeal, but it fills a niche for native-species aquaponics in southeastern Australia.

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate classification

temperate (handles seasonal swings)

Outdoor pond zones (USDA)

7 to 11 (winter low around -18°C or warmer)

Heating in a temperate climate

Not required (handles seasonal cool periods)

Cooling in a temperate climate

Not required

Zone bounds reflect year-round outdoor pond viability with no active heating. Anywhere outside the bounded zone, the species can still be kept in an indoor heated tank or a seasonally-managed system. Verify your specific microclimate, as a sheltered yard zone can run a half-zone warmer than the regional rating.

Care notes

A cool-water to warm-water aquaponics species suited to temperate and subtropical Australian conditions. Optimal growth temperature is 20–26°C, with a tolerated range of about 10–30°C. Growth is moderate to slow: 300–500 g in 18-24 months on commercial pellet (40-45% protein). FCR is approximately 1.5-2.0. The species is native to Australia and legal to culture in most eastern Australian states without the regulatory complexity of non-native species like tilapia or barramundi (in southern states). Fingerlings are available from several Australian hatcheries, though supply can be seasonal. The main limitation compared to other Australian aquaponics species is growth rate: barramundi and silver perch both grow faster, though barramundi requires warmer water (26–30°C) that's expensive to maintain in southeastern Australia. Stocking density should be moderate at 10-20 g/L. Australian bass are predatory and will eat smaller fish, so size-grading is essential. Water quality requirements: DO above 5 mg/L, ammonia below 1 mg/L, pH 6.5-8.0. Disease resistance is good in well-maintained systems. The flesh quality is excellent, making Australian bass a solid personal-consumption choice for southeastern Australian aquaponics.

Further reading

• Aquaponics water chemistry: balancing pH for fish and plants
• Fish for aquaponics: tilapia vs everything else