Time for some clarification
"Chinese perch" is a lose term covering the genus of fish siniperca
Rallysman has the siniperca chuatsi, one of the more commonly available, also one that gets quite large, 24" specimens are not uncommon. But many of the other species in the group, including the Korean perch, siniperca scherzeri, whitei, herzi, roulei, obscura, etc...many of which do not grow past 16".
Nile perch is the one with a notorious reputation as the fish that has decimated the wild victorian cichlids in Lake Victoria. Which the fish themselves should not be blamed, but the humans that introduced the fish to the region for commercial purposes.
In captivity, a nile perch, which is lates niloticus, is a reasonably peaceful fish, rarely if any out in the hobby are over 30", when in fact many silver arowanas and pacus have been in the hobby and grown way past that mark, and no one is making a fuss about it, ultimately, we just have to be responsible for what we keep. If anyone has a nile perch that has outgrown their tank, give me a call, I'd be more than happy to take it off their hand.
On another note, there are also some Lates sp. angustifrons, mariae, microlepis that only gets to 3 feet or so. And last but not least, recently there has been a large influx of lates calcarifer, they can get just as large as a Lates niloticus.
Other fish that will out grow a "typical fish tank" that is often sold and seen available.
Pacu, arowanas, arapaima, most of the south american catfish, redtails, tiger shovel nose, planiceps, peacock bass. More pacus, red devils and even oscars are found in rivers and lakes, and you'll never find a nile perch!
Just a few ideas to think about before jumping to conclusions.
"Chinese perch" is a lose term covering the genus of fish siniperca
Rallysman has the siniperca chuatsi, one of the more commonly available, also one that gets quite large, 24" specimens are not uncommon. But many of the other species in the group, including the Korean perch, siniperca scherzeri, whitei, herzi, roulei, obscura, etc...many of which do not grow past 16".
Nile perch is the one with a notorious reputation as the fish that has decimated the wild victorian cichlids in Lake Victoria. Which the fish themselves should not be blamed, but the humans that introduced the fish to the region for commercial purposes.
In captivity, a nile perch, which is lates niloticus, is a reasonably peaceful fish, rarely if any out in the hobby are over 30", when in fact many silver arowanas and pacus have been in the hobby and grown way past that mark, and no one is making a fuss about it, ultimately, we just have to be responsible for what we keep. If anyone has a nile perch that has outgrown their tank, give me a call, I'd be more than happy to take it off their hand.
On another note, there are also some Lates sp. angustifrons, mariae, microlepis that only gets to 3 feet or so. And last but not least, recently there has been a large influx of lates calcarifer, they can get just as large as a Lates niloticus.
Other fish that will out grow a "typical fish tank" that is often sold and seen available.
Pacu, arowanas, arapaima, most of the south american catfish, redtails, tiger shovel nose, planiceps, peacock bass. More pacus, red devils and even oscars are found in rivers and lakes, and you'll never find a nile perch!
Just a few ideas to think about before jumping to conclusions.
.. in my dreams!