|
Scientific Name
Pseudaphritis urvilli
Other Common Names
Congoli, sandy, sand trout, freshwater flathead.
Size
Commonly 100-240mm to more than 360mm
Conservation Status
Common/ widespread
Habitat
Found throughout estuarine and river systems within it range. Generally
prefers lower water velocities and is often found amongst debris on
the bottom of quiet pools or under snags and undercut banks. In gravel
substrates, will bury itself leaving the eyes and dorsal fin just visible
as it waits in ambush. Has a bottom dwelling life style.
Distribution in East Gippsland
Common in southern East Gippsland.
Reproduction
Not well known, it is believed that tupong migrate into the estuaries
to spawn.
Diet
Tupong are a generalised carnivore and eat a wide variety of benthic
animals such as aquatic insects, worms, small yabbies and shrimps.
Angling
Not generally fished for due to their small size, tupong can be angled
using very light tackle and small earth worms as bait. Larger specimens
can put up a good fight for a fish of their size. Mostly, tupong are
caught by anglers fishing for blackfish and are not well know amongst
the angling community.
On the table
Tupong are not a table fish..
In the aquarium
An excellent aquarium fish, tupong are hardy and easily fed on earthworms,
small yabbies, shrimps and aquatic insects. They often exhibit comical
behaviour at feeding time, "lying in ambush" for an earthworm
then darting out to capture the prey.
|
