Life span of yellow perch will depend on average water temperature, growth rate, and type of foods eaten. YP will live longer in cooler waters with slower growth. We are finding that fast growth and a high carbohydrate diet seems to shorten their life span. When regularly fed a high protein pellet diet in the midwest I see them usually living to 6 years to often 8 years old (total age). Stocker YP (2"-8") can be 1 - 2 yrs old when you buy them. When living on a natural diet they can sometimes live 10-13 yrs.
