MIGHTY MURRAY COD
Maccullochella peelii peelii
GENERAL INFORMATION
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DESCRIPTION: A heavily built fish, dark olive in colour with extensive mottling. Fins are paddle shaped. Has the look of a bulldog about it. SIZE: Very big, 60 - 90 cm in captivity. Up to 180 cm in the wild. INTERESTING FACTS The Murray cod is Australia's largest freshwater fish, It is a threatened species, Murray cod are thought to be able to live for well over a century, and The largest Murray cod found was 6 feet long a weighed 116 kilograms, which is scary when you consider that a Murray cod can eat something almost it's own size! |
This would have to be the ultimate native fish to keep in captivity. It is a fish of legends. Murray cod are spectacular fish when they get large and feeding them will never get boring. Can be trained to take food from the hand. My cod spends a large amount of time observing what is happening outside of his tank.
AVAILABILITY
Murray cod can usually be obtained by aquarium dealers, or you can catch one (but as they are a threatened species I would urge you not to do this). Be aware that they are usually only available once a year from breeders.
MAINTENANCE OF CAPTIVE SPECIMENS
SUITABILITY FOR KEEPING IN CAPTIVITY
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Advantages: Defends itself if harassed. Easy to feed. Not particularly sensitive to water quality. I have not seen this fish disturbing plants yet. Quite happy living in a large pond once it is big enough to avoid predation by birds. |
Disadvantages: Grows to a very large size. Needs a HUGE aquarium (240 cm long X 60 cm wide or more)! Will eat other fish close to its own size. Is territorial and may attack other fish. Cannot be kept with other members of its own species. Only eats meat and fish. Needs to be kept cool - below (27C). |
Suitable only for fish keepers with appropriate facilities.
AQUARIUM CONDITIONS
| Minimum aquarium size: | Should have a big tank, 180 cm X 60 cm is recommended as a basic size, but may need an even larger one eventually. Luckily it can be easily maintained in an outdoor pond when it gets bigger. |
| Water temperature: | Can be maintained at room temperature but it should not get over 27C. Optimum temperature is around 20C. |
| Water salinity: | Freshwater only. |
| Filtration & oxygenation: | Water needs to be kept reasonably clean and always well oxygenated. |
| Lighting: | Not critical. |
| Plants: | Plant are appreciated but not critical. |
| Furnishings: | Dark hiding locations important. |
| Notes: |
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AQUARIUM BEHAVIOR Murray cod are territorial and are bullies. From what I have seen they select a cave or secluded location in the aquarium and claim it as their own. Once they have chosen a territory they will guard it vigorously by attacking any trespassers. They often leave their cave to patrol around the aquarium searching for food. These fish are fast learners and will quickly identify you as their source of food. My cod will immediately swim the the surface of the tank when I approach. I have noticed that behaviour is very variable between individual fish. Each Murray cod has its own personality. |
Only takes live and frozen foods like beef heart and white bait. Will take food from the substrate, midwater and from the hand. Murray cod are very enthusiastic eaters.
FISH KEEPING RECOMMENDATIONS
This fish is large and aggressive and it can eat another fish almost it's own size (and mine has)! It needs a big tank. It should probably be maintained by itself but can be kept with other suitable large and aggressive fishes if you know how to do it. Eventually it will become too large to maintain with other fishes. Murray cod cannot tolerate water over 30C and should be kept below 25C. I have been told that large Murray cod will only take live food i.e. Goldfish. Large cod are very strong so the aquarium must be very strong. Murray cod have been known to smash their own tanks!
Our Murray cod proved to be extremely difficult to photograph. I had to remove
him from his tank (which took about fifteen minutes) and place him in a small aquarium with no hiding places. He
didn't like it at all. The erect dorsal fin shows his annoyance. This fish is about 2 cm long.
OUR FISH
SPECIMEN DETAILS
I keep a single young fish.
AQUARIUM DETAILS
90 cm X 60 cm, maintained at 24C. Filtered by a single internal power filter. Lots of plants and wood, and well illuminated. Tank is also occupied by small native and tropical fish. The Murray cod will have to be separated when he grows larger.
USEFUL LINKS
Native Fish Australia - Murray cod
Contains details of distribution, habitat and aquarium care. Also has an image.
Copyright (c) Alexander Foreman
