Bluespotted Sunfish Biotope?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Pyramid_Party

Pyramid_Party

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Aug 6, 2008
4,916
4
68
Monterey, CA
Hey guys,


I turned my 29 gallon into a Bluespotted Sunfish tank. I got 5 of them about 1/2 - 1 inch in size. I got rid of all my tropical plants and want to stock it with native plants. I got Sago Pondweed, Anacharis, Hornwort, dwarf clover, and dwarf sag available. I am not sure about the last 2 plants being native (anyone know for sure?). But anyway, I want to get even more technical and maybe stock with the plants that are found IN Bluespotted Sunfish habitat. Anyone have an idea what kinds of plants are found in their habitat?


They come from slow moving/stagnant ponds and swamps. I put ghost shrimp in with them cause I thought they were native, I also heard they come from the same area. They will probably wind up on the Sunfishes' menu later on though.
 
I'd personally look at their range and just pick some natives plants from that area to add, im sure vallisneria americana (sp) would be in their native range. PS you should post some photos i'd love to see some of bluespots in aquariums
 
Yeah I am trying to get some Vals. I got the above mentioned plants, some rocks and driftwood. I am can find specific locations where they are found (the link I posted shows pics of their habitat) but without being there or having been there, or just familiar with the area, I don't know what plants are there. I am not really trying to make it all that fancy either. Having a weedy look with a few weeds is adequate. I also may cut one of the filters I got going to slow the water movement down. But so far it does not seem to bother them.

They are pretty shy/skittish at the moment. But they are starting to calm down. They don't dart around like they used to but they still get scared when they see me or if I approach the tank all of a sudden. I feed them scuds, live blackworms, and daphnia. I will try to get a few pics up soon.
 
I don't think I can post on NANFA unless I am a member, and it cost to be a member. I think I know who to contact for this. I recognize a name in that link I posted and can get an email and send them a message.
 
Check it out: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SASU&mapType=nativity&photoID=salo12_001_avd.tif

Search for whatever species you have (using the scientific name). The database will show you the plant's range in the US and whether it is native or introduced (click on View Native Status button at bottom left of map). If no results are returned, it is probably not native.

Most of the native aquatic plants of the east coast states are likely to occur with bluespots; the exceptions are things you probably won't find anyway, being either habitat specialists like Podostemum or rare species like Amphianthus. The common petstore ghost shrimp, Palaemonetes paludosus, is abundant in the same habitat as bluespots.
 
Oh, yeah: be careful with anacharis, there are several similar species sold under that name. The native one, Elodea canadensis, has small leaves in whorls of three. Two exotic pests, Hydrilla verticillata and Egeria densa, are more often sold as anacharis. They are bigger, with leaves in whorls of four or five; Hydrilla also has curved teeth on the underside midrib of the leaf.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom