LAT88 - There is another option for YP (see below). Although your idea of native stock is very feasable. Providing you an catch some brood stock soon. don't delay measuring water temperatures and angling or you could easily miss the 2017 spawn of YP. Maybe check with local anglers or bait shops for when yellow perch spawn in your area. On-line anglers in the FL Lake Seminole area may provide some info. All Local wildlife officers should know about your local YP spawn times. If they don't they are way over paid.
The other option is to contact Rainman (Private Message) on the Forum and see if he can bring you some midwest YP that are gravid. Rainman comes to AL-GA area for his blue tilapia. He could have some YP (gravid or spent) on the truck for you rather than drive there empty. He could drop them off or you meet him and pick up 30-100 perch (4"-8"). If it is post spawn at least you would have some breeder YP for next year.
You ask: ""a few pairs in a 285 gallon tank, will the they spawn & is it possible the eggs will be fertilized?
YES - assuming the YP are fully gravid and close to spawn temperature. Mature males that you catch should be oozing milt and females will have obviously swollen bellies if they are close to spawning or currently spawning. Fat gravid females will be close to spawning +- 6-12 days. It is best to have 2-3 males for every female to insure ok egg fertilization. More 5males : 1female provides best fertilization. At 55F-60F egg ribbons will deteriorate and hatch in 10-12days. At 65F hatch is a copuple days sooner.
To help insure success:
A. do not over crowd them in your 285g tank so it maintains good water quality (2-3 females with males will be plenty);
B. aerate the water or use a small flow through volume or a water change each day to keep the tank better water quality;
C. Add some finely divided twiggy branches in the tank. Weighted near the bottom is okay. Often the eggs will be laid on or laced in the branches; sometimes the eggs will fall off the branches and look like toilet paper in the bottom of the tank.
E. I would cover at least 1/2 of the tank to keep it in subdued light yet let it be able to receive some day-night light cycle.
D. IMO do your best to get some small forage fish(2-3dozen) in the tank preferably 1"-1.5" fatheads or small bait shop shiners in the tank as food. YP may need to be in the tank up to 14 days before they drop their eggs so some food will keep them healthy. One or two fertilized YP egg ribbons(8"fish) that fully hatch can easily provide 10000-20000fry. If the pond has good zooplankton,,, high fry survival will occur.
E. As soon as eggs are laid in the tank, dip them out and put at least two of the ribbons draped on branches in the pond and at least one, in a mesh basket similar to a laundry basket in the shallow part of the pond to cut your accidental losses & keep the egg ribbon just in case of animal - bird damage. YP eggs are not very palatable so very few critters including ducks and geese will eat the unprotected YP eggs.
YP will be spawning locally in your area soon. Monitor the water temperatures for determining the spawn. Your first homework is to go out and measure your current water temps. YP normally spawn in most areas above the latitude of 36-37 degrees at water temps of 50F. Southern acclimatized YP below the latitude of 35 degrees may spawn at a different temperature than 50F. Latitude of 35 degrees is just above the MS, AL, GA line. I look forward to hearing results of your project to provide some very good and much needed information about yellow perch in your southern part of the country. Go man Go. I look forward to hearing more about your project regardless of the outcome. It will all be very useful information.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 01/10/17 03:37 PM.
