Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Perch Identification pictures

Point taken, Eric. There's always a bigger fish, or a faster car/bike or a bigger deer somewhere. Makes life interesting.

I guessed right on 3 out of 4 of Hooksetters examples but didn't (still don't) see the RES in #4. But like you said, it sure is fun.

Ahhhh Yes always a bigger fish with more teeth and nastier attitude!! All in all any fish you put in your pond are the best fish!! Thats the fun of building the eco system and watching the fish grow to their greatest potential.

I was just out at my pond today and I have one SMB that is now around 16 inches. The other interesting thing is that they are now (After 3 yrs) starting to eat the feed at the surface!! Nice to see them jump and splash along the top when I throw stuff in.

Eric and Dan you guys are right. I just wish I could grow a few YP , eyes and SMB etc down here but its to hot. Those real perch are sure tasty.

Dan, IMO those that think No4 is a RES are using body coloration or pattern or markings for their identification, which can be very risky in some fish identifications. Note that the body marking pattern on the gill cover of No 4 is not the same as on fish No.1. This is more pronounced when you look at the lower half of the gill cover on both fish. The typical RES body pattern extends on to the gill plate of fish 1 but they do not continue onto the gill of No4. This is another reason fish No 4 is not a RES in my opinion. I think if the gill rakers were exposed in fish No.4 they would be identical to those of a BG not a RES.

Thanks Bill. I jumped from your explnation to the pictures several times and I think I see what you are talking about.
And then, as Eric pointed out, there's Hybrids, crosses, different areas of the country....Yikes! Can be very confusing & intimidating to the amateur.

Dan

bill, u r correct that i think #4 has RES genetics based soley on coloration and body markings.

so how does hybridization effect the # of gillrakers in the Fx offspring? and is this a question whose answer is "it depends"?

if more BG genes than it would have # of rakers like BG, and if more RES genes, it would have # of rakers like RES?

what is your experience w/ counting gill rakers in various hybrid combinations of lepomis?

thanks in advance for what i know will be a thoughtful and insightful reply.

dave

Dave take a look at Wisc Fish (see archives under id sources). They show lots of pics of X rakers and provide that they are intermediate of the two parental species. They have no RES morphology info and that is in short supply elsewhere. Get a copy of Peterson's Field Guide to Freshwater Fish it has very good morphology info.

I think 4 is a RES by looks and morph. I learned a long time ago that pics on here can look very different depending on the computer and screen. On my screen no 4's pectoral fin looks almost exactly like no 1's shape, size and length on Bill's I assume it looks different. I note that the 2 BG ear flaps look much more different than the 2 RES do. On my screen the scale pattern goes almost up to the eye on both RES and their head shape is similar as are the 2 BGs but they are different from the RES. Faint black spot on dorsal of BG not on fish 1 or 4 (this is noted as a major morph difference between BG and RES). The difference in size of the 2 RES could be from a # of factors like actual age ( in the south RES often spawn more than once and/or the period is spread out), aggressiveness or male/female , or parents genes. Because the spawn can be spread out the early stage food supply can be very different for 2 birth dates 60 days apart thus there growth rate/size. RES have short stubby gill rakers while BG are long and thin and Xs are medium length and width. As both Bill and I stated this type of id can be hard/problematical sometimes especially in small fish. All of this and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee.