Water parameters
Minimum tank: 300 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 36% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 1.40% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 0.70% of body weight
- Max density
- 45 g per litre
A 800 g adult eats about 11.2 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~112 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | legal | Native species; no permit required for personal aquaculture in NSW verified 2026-05-13 |
| Queensland | legal | verified 2026-05-13 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
Native to inland river systems of central and northern Australia, including the Lake Eyre and Bulloo basins. The species (Scortum barcoo) is a freshwater terapontid found in turbid, warm river channels, waterholes, and floodplain lakes. Adults reach 4–5 kg in the wild, though aquaculture harvest size is typically 400–800 g. Jade perch is notable for having the highest omega-3 fatty acid content of any freshwater fish tested, which has driven interest in the species for health-conscious aquaculture markets. The flesh is white, mild, and firm. The species was developed for Australian aquaculture in the 1990s and has since been exported to aquaponics operations in the US, Europe, and Southeast Asia as a specialty food fish.
Climate and outdoor ponds
- Climate
- subtropical (tolerates mild cooling)
- USDA zones
- 9–13 (winter low around -7°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- yes
- Cooling needed
- no
Care notes
A warm-water aquaponics species with a strong nutritional selling point: the highest omega-3 fatty acid content of any freshwater fish tested in laboratory analyses. Optimal temperature is 24–30°C, with a tolerated range of 12–34°C. Growth: 400–800 g in 12-18 months on commercial pellet (36-42% protein). FCR is approximately 1.5-2.0. Stocking density: 15-30 g/L. Jade perch tolerate a moderate range of water quality conditions: DO above 3 mg/L, ammonia below 1.5 mg/L, pH 6.5-8.5. They accept pellet feed readily when trained as fingerlings and are generally easy to manage in culture. The species handles crowding and handling stress better than most Australian native fish, which is advantageous in aquaponics where the system is regularly disturbed for maintenance, harvesting, and planting. Fingerlings are available from Australian hatcheries and, increasingly, from specialty suppliers in the US and Europe that have imported broodstock. Legal status outside Australia varies; check local regulations because jade perch is a non-native species in most countries and may require an import or aquaculture permit. In the US, several states allow culture; others have not yet ruled on the species. The omega-3 content provides a genuine marketing advantage: laboratory analyses consistently show 1,500-2,000 mg of omega-3 per 100 g of flesh, compared to 200-500 mg for tilapia or catfish. This positions jade perch as a premium health-food product, and the nutritional claim is verifiable and compelling for health-conscious consumers.