75 Gallon Native Set up...Will this work?

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MonsterCichlids75

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 15, 2012
347
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46
Boston, MA
hey guys, i removed the bluegills from my 75 gal tank (knowing they would just grow too large) and gave them to a friend who lives a few houses down with a big man made pond in his backyard. Anyway, I now currently have 2 Pumpkinseeds, both of which i believe to be male ( one of just larger than the other), a red breasted sunfish, and a brown bullhead. The largest PSeed set himself up as the dominant fish in the tank for sure but he doesnt hassle the others that much at all, the only time I see him chase the smaller Pseed and redbreast is right after feeding...it seems to get him all wound up and then he goes off chasing the other for a few minutes until he tires out. The others still get plenty of food however. The red breasted sunfish (I'm pretty sure that's what it is, correct me if im wrong) is a young one, only about 4" but if anyone could tell me if its a male or female that would be great! So will this set up work in the long run? I'll post some pics, and I plan on putting a few more plants or rock in the tank to make more space for territory but here are some pics i just took.IMG_0472.JPG

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also, if you'll notice the bigger P.seed doesnt have that red spot on its gill ear...well it does, but only on one side. if you look closely in the first pic you can see the red spot. how come he only has that on one side rather than both?
 
thanks! i've been feeding them well! meal worms, crickets, shrimp bloodworms, you name it...the red breast is already accepting cichlid pellets! the bullhead has to be difficult tho and only excepts live earthworms lol
 
Your setup should be fine. You have plenty of territory for the sunfish to establish order, and the only problem I can think of is your bullhead may eventually outgrow the tank, or have a go at a smaller sunfish (mine never bothered any), but not likely in the near future.

Try the bullhead on carnivore pellets. Ours never could resist them.
 
cool, good to hear thanks! i've tried the hikari sinking carnivore pellets but he still doesn't show any interest in other foods except worms but its alright for now since there is a bait and tackle store about 10 mins away from my house so i can buy night crawlers and dillies for him. I'll keep offering the pellets and maybe I'll try making him go a few days without any food and see if i can get him to except the pellets then
 
Bullheads can take a long time to settle in. I got mine at 2 inches, and still he took a few months to venture out much. I know he was eating because he was fat, but we rarely saw him do it.

So maybe try dropping some stuff in about an hr after you turn the lights off and see if it's gone and he's fat in the morning. They're usually more comfortable eating in the dark, and that's when they usually come out to feed in the wild. :)
 
This setup looks amazing. I'm looking into putting together a 75g native myself. Could you maybe send me a pm with info on how and what you chose to set yours up with?
 
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