What do yellow perch eat? Although the fry (babies) begin feeding on plankton (tiny aquatic plant material), the yellow perch is considered a carnivore (a meat-eater). The fry soon move up to a diet of small aquatic insects and crustaceans, and also eat the eggs of other fish. Adult yellow perch also normally feed on insects, small fish and small crayfish. Yellow perch like to eat during the morning and afternoon.
