I live in Texas and I am seriously considering converting my 75 gallon to a native tank. I'm thinking of putting in your typical sunfish and maybe a bluegill or two. When I go fishing, we catch plenty of palm-sized sunfish/bluegill, but I'm not sure if they any larger than that. What sort of stocking list can I use for a 75 gallon?
Converting 75g to native
- Thread starter fmjnax
- Start date
There are several speices of typical sunfish so you should be more specific as sizes can vary. Also, while the bluegill you catch are typicaly small they can reach much larger sizes. If you went with only bluegill I would say you could do perhaps 3 in a 75g. I suggest finding out what the other fish are that you're looking at.
I wouldn't even go with more than one bluegill in a 75g. Every time I see multiple adult bluegill in a tank of that size they're torn up. While I guess you could, it just isn't as attractive to have fish with torn fins.
I'd go with a green sunfish over a bluegill. While they're supposed to get a foot long I haven't ever seen them that big and they seem pretty sedate with multiple sunfish. If you get a good specimen and feed good foods a green sunfish is more attractive than a bluegill anyway, IMO.
Longear seem to be one of the best to go with since they get extremely colorful and don't get as big as bluegill or green sunfish. They're not extremely aggressive to other fish but they are very aggressive feeders. I can't stick my hand in my tank to feed my bullhead or madtom without most of the food getting stolen out of my hand before it gets there, lol. My 8 longear are in with a green sunfish and 4 rock bass and they all do just fine in a 125g. You could easily do a few longears and a green or 2 in a 75g.
Just keep in mind it will probably be quite a bit of maintanance since these fish produce LOTS of waste. A lot like a south american cichlid tank only worse.
I'd go with a green sunfish over a bluegill. While they're supposed to get a foot long I haven't ever seen them that big and they seem pretty sedate with multiple sunfish. If you get a good specimen and feed good foods a green sunfish is more attractive than a bluegill anyway, IMO.
Longear seem to be one of the best to go with since they get extremely colorful and don't get as big as bluegill or green sunfish. They're not extremely aggressive to other fish but they are very aggressive feeders. I can't stick my hand in my tank to feed my bullhead or madtom without most of the food getting stolen out of my hand before it gets there, lol. My 8 longear are in with a green sunfish and 4 rock bass and they all do just fine in a 125g. You could easily do a few longears and a green or 2 in a 75g.
Just keep in mind it will probably be quite a bit of maintanance since these fish produce LOTS of waste. A lot like a south american cichlid tank only worse.
I seem to catch a lot of longear, redear, and pumpkinseed over here. I (rather, my kids) catch them around the 4" range.
And regarding the waste, I think I'm already set up to handle it. I currently have 6 bristlenose pleco's in my SA themed setup.
And regarding the waste, I think I'm already set up to handle it. I currently have 6 bristlenose pleco's in my SA themed setup.
fmjnax;1139664; said:
Bushynose plecos produce a ton of waste themselves. I have never kept a fish that produced as much waste as pelcos. They don't eat poop so I hope that's not why they are there.
Longears and pumpkinseeds would do in a 75g. So would a redear but like bluegil they grow very large. IME longears and pumpkinseeds are very aggresive sunfish so either stock lightly or slightly overstock like you would African cichlids. Pumpkinseeds average around 8" and longears 6".
I have two longears, two pumpkinseeds, a green sunfish, and a greengill, none of them are full grown but for now they work great. You will need good filtration with sunfish and do alot of water changes.
Thanks for the info guys.
Just as a note, my plecos are not in to eat poop (hehehe). My 75 gal is currently a planted tank (pressurized CO2, ferts, high-lighting, you name it). I have raised them from fry with the intent on only keeping a couple, but I still have all 6 of them. They're in for algae control.
Just as a note, my plecos are not in to eat poop (hehehe). My 75 gal is currently a planted tank (pressurized CO2, ferts, high-lighting, you name it). I have raised them from fry with the intent on only keeping a couple, but I still have all 6 of them. They're in for algae control.