Thanks guys. I don't want to add anymore fish. In my opinion, I think it is maxed out. Working on trying to get a 300 gallon and then adding more fish.
The fish is a brown bullhead catfish.
The first picture is a 2nd. or 3 rd. re-do. The original tank before the first picture had beautiful moss/algae, then I added the sand from the lake and it covered the moss and turned it brown. So the first pic is where I found more algae and threw it in. I didn't know that the algae would grow back slowly in a few weeks.
The first pic is the catfish after it had finally settled down. That's why it has so much debris in the water. I had to snap pics as fast as I could. I had to rearrange the tank for the catfish to be comfortable.
The smaller branches help divide the territories for the sunfish. This really helps too. I was concerned about the fish scraping their sides on the branches. The fish swim right through them like acrobats, I am still blown away. The catfish does not like the branches and backs away from them. So I have the branches pulled up enough that it can swim freely without any problems.
I have given up trying to keep the sand all over the tank. The catfish always pushes it over towards the front. Since the catfish is one of my favorites, I don't care anymore.
The green sunfish still amazes me with it's tenacity, colors and physical difference from the blue gills. I am so glad I only have one of these in the current tank. I don't think my tank or occupants could take it. The green sunfish only allows the catfish to come n it's territory. It gets ready to charge the catfish and stops and turns the other way.
There is only one dumb fish to challenge the catfish by attacking the tail. I am expecting the dumb blue gill to come up missing one day. The catfish opened it's mouth and has a 2 inch high X 2 inch wide mouth.
The catfish is fighting back and it is jaw dropping, how fast it can turn around and mock charge. When it mock charges, it opens mouth towards the blue gill and there is always a 1 inch distance from the blue gill. The only thing that keeps this blue gill alive is the driftwood.
It is not easy to make sure the fish have swimming room, territories and safety. I have enough driftwood and branches to keep the smaller fish safe from the catfish. The catfish has enough room to swim, turn and enough darkness to keep it happy. The branches are enough for the blue gills and keeps them happy. The green sunfish chooses large drfitwood for it's territory. On top of all of this, I wanted it like a scene from these various fishes true home. Using what is available and realistic straight from their lake.
Thank you again for the information and your comments are greatly appreciated. I will continue strive for a true biotope.
like a natural habitat
