Smallmouth yellowfish

Introduction: Smallmouth yellowfish prefer clear-flowing waters of large rivers with sandy or rocky substrates. They are also found in large dams and can be found in higher altitudes and in smaller tributaries than the largemouth yellowfish.

Distribution: The Vaal-Orange River systems, including the Fish River on the southern boundaries of Namibia.

Diet: They are largely omnivorous depending on the food available with the larger fish feeding on benthic invertebrates, bivalve molluscs, vegetation, algae forming the main food sources.

Colouring: Silvery with dark blotches when juvenile, with the blotches disappearing gradually into adulthood. Adults become golden olive-bronze above, cream below. The anal fin has an orange tinge.

Breeding: Smallmouth yellowfish breed in spring through to midsummer after the first substantial rains of the season. They migrate upstream to spawn over preferred and suitable gravel beds. Eggs are laid in these gravel beds and hatch in 3-8 days.

Size: Males reach about 200mm standard size and females 240mm.