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Golden Galaxias

Golden Galaxias

Confined to just two lakes on Tasmania's Central Plateau, the Golden Galaxias has one of the smallest natural ranges of any freshwater fish in Australia.

Its dense populations sustain the large brown and rainbow trout that draw anglers to these highland waters — understanding this fish means understanding why those trout grow the way they do.

Scientific Name: Galaxias auratus

Physical Characteristics:
  • Golden-amber to olive body with dark circular spots across the back and dark ovoid markings along the sides — the coloration that gives this species its name.
  • Pale orange to amber fins on the dorsal, anal, and pelvic surfaces, each edged with a broad black margin; belly is silvery-grey with a long, slender snout and roughly equal jaws.
  • No scales — the thickset, cylindrical trunk is typical of galaxiids. Most fish run 140–180 mm; the maximum recorded length is around 240 mm.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • A lake-dwelling species whose entire natural range is Lake Sorell and Lake Crescent on Tasmania's Central Plateau, plus associated streams and wetlands — one of the tightest distributions of any Australian freshwater fish.
  • Prefers still or gently flowing water, using rocky margins, macrophyte beds, and marsh habitats for cover.
  • Two small translocated populations were established in farm dams in the Clyde River catchment; only one persists.

Specific Spots

  • Adults concentrate along rocky lake margins and in macrophyte beds, where complex structure provides cover from predators — including the trout sharing their water.
  • Juveniles school in open water for their first four to five months before moving inshore to seek shelter among rocks and vegetation.
  • Weedy shallows and marsh edges at lake margins are key adult refuges, particularly during the winter spawning period.

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