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PEACOCK BASS (FISH)
Peacock Bass (fish)
Peacock bass are medium-sized fish with lengths between 30 centimeters and 1 meter. All feature as a round ocellus in the caudal peduncle and are bony fish. Peacock bass are sedentary and live in lakes, lagoons, rivers and estuaries, preferring areas of slow or standing waters. In the breeding season they form couples who share the responsibility of protecting the nest, eggs and juveniles. They are diurnal fish that feed on anything small that moves and other fish and even small crustaceans. Unlike most Amazonian fish, peacock bass chase the prey until they succeed. So it is a very popular fish in sport fishing.
Habitat of Peacock Bass
Peacock bass is a territorial species and relatively sedentary, making migrations in a perimeter of up to 40 kilometers in length, which accelerates the recovery of environments affected by the fishing activity and contributes to the maintenance of the species. In the Amazon Basin, when the rivers are low, the Peacock bass loses protection of the flooded forest (igapó or floodplain forest), which only occurs during floods, making it an easy prey for fishermen. In the ponds, during the early morning and end of the day, when the water is already colder, they feed near the banks. When the water heats up, they move to the center of the ponds. Peacock bass does not enjoy running water. In rivers can be found in backwaters. In the dams he prefers to live along the banks, in places where can be found "junk", which in the language of fishermen, are antlers, floating plants and other submerged structures that form a refuge.
Eating Habits
The Peacock bass is a voracious fish, which occupies the upper levels of the food chains of the rivers. It feeds on adult fish, pups, pitus and probably all sorts of insects and spiders that fall into the water. They are active hunters who chase prey, that is, after initiating the attack, do not give up until they can capture them. The Peacock bass eats all the other fish. This fact was pointed out by some fishermen as being one of the main causes of the reduction of fish resources because it is an invasive species. Experienced fishermen say that the best time for peacock bass fishing is in the spawning period, because it is at this time that they find themselves more valiant attacking the baits for food, as well as for the protection of the puppies. The peacock bass is cannibal, that is, it feeds on its similar. But only when they are small. Only involuntarily, when he does not recognize fish of the same species. When the puppy grows up and the round tail spot appears, there is no more cannibalism.
