Pirate Perch - Ecology

Ecology

These fish are known to live in places with clear warm water with low currents, which include bottomland lakes, overflow ponds and the quiet pools and backwaters of low-gradient streams. These fish can be found where there are densely vegetated areas, as well as places with woody debris, and underneath banks in root masses. Research has shown that debris in deep water with undercut banks and slow inside flows are used more by this species. The area where the perch reside is dependent on their size, with medium to large size perch occupying places that were more structurally complex than small pirate perch. They are known to congregate in these areas to avoid predation from such predators as piscivorous birds, otters or mink. It has been reported that the pirate perch has nocturnal feeding habits. Their diet has been documented to consist of live mosquito larva, amphipods, glass shrimp, meal worms, small fish, dragonfly and stonefly larva and earthworms.