BLUEGILLS AND SUNFISH

[fishyz]

I might have to do the same. To me sunnies are way better than cichlids.

 

[sandtiger]

Well, I have a lot to learn. I did some looking and found out the sunfish family and the cichlids are not even close related. In fact , there is only 30 kinds of sunfish species and all come from N.America. I know this all sound boring but I like the sunfish . Some day a have to set up a tank full of them.

Yeah, there aren't very many of them but I do agree that they are great fish. I currently have more sunfish species that cichlids myself. Plus, with so few sunfish species out there it gives me a goal I might be able to do...own all the sunfish species known to man (you can't do that with cichlids).

 

[fishyz]

Go for it sandtiger.

 

[TOM A.]

Do sunfish fade in color in the tanks? I was told you need lots of green colors , like plants and background,to keep them from fading out . Any truth to that ?

 

[sandtiger]

The fade in and out like cichlids, depends on their mood really.

 

[guppy]

cichlids and sunnies may look alike but have a different skelatal and gill structure, theyare very cool fish. They adapt well to tanks but do tend to fade if they have no shady spots

 

[fishyz]

Lilypads or duckweed should fix that.

 

[guppy]

They also gain color during breeding season.

 

[fishyz]

I just cought a 2" pumpkinseed sunfish yesterday and I already love this fish. It's in a ten gallon tank with a johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum and a juvanile Ameca splendas. It will go into a 150 gallon tank once I get it set up. The only cichlids I've ever kept were anglefish and I'm never going to keep cichlid again because this sunfish is just to cool.

 

[TOM A.]

The sunnies are spawning right now on beds. I see them when fishing. I think I will collect some fry this summer and set up a bluegill tank. Cant wait to try it.