Do you see flashes of silver darting through our tanks? Meet our shiner perch — small fish with a lot going on inside. And right now, some of them have a special story to tell: they’ve just given birth!
Do you see any perch that are darker than the others? Maybe you see them chasing other fish away. If you are lucky, you may see them performing a courtship dance. This is how male shiner perch find a mate during the summer. Regnant females gave birth to inch long babies, at times up to 20 of them! Some of the smaller perch in the exhibit are offspring from past years.
Shiner perch are a common and important part of the Salish Sea ecosystem. They often travel in schools through shallow coastal waters, where they feed on small animals like plankton and tiny crustaceans. In turn, they become an important food source for larger fish, birds, and other marine animals.
Next time you visit, take a closer look at our shiner perch. You might spot one of our parents swimming by, looking after the next generation of residents.
Common Name: Shiner Perch
Scientific Binomial: Cymatogaster aggregata
Family: Embiotocidae (surfperches)
Range: Eastern North Pacific Ocean — from the Gulf of Alaska south to Baja California, Mexico.
Habitat: Shallow coastal waters, estuaries, eelgrass beds, kelp forests, rocky shorelines, and protected bays. Shiner perch are commonly found throughout the Salish Sea, often schooling in nearshore habitats.
Size: Typically 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) in length.
Diet: Small crustaceans, zooplankton, marine worms, and other tiny invertebrates.
Life History: Shiner perch are unusual among fish because they give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Females carry developing embryos internally and give birth to fully formed juveniles, often producing dozens of young at a time. They give birth up to 11 months after mating.
Conservation Note: Because they rely on healthy shallow-water habitats such as eelgrass beds and estuaries, shiner perch are a reminder of the importance of protecting nearshore ecosystems.
