Hi, im interested in sunfish, i live in scotland and i was curious how to care for them and if you could add pics of the different colour types it would be appreciated.
How much do sunfish cost?
- Thread starter twiisted
- Start date
i really like pumpkinseed but i dont think they are legal in the UK but they may just need a license and i know an aquarist society that have connections but i wouldnt mind keeping them as they remind me of peacock bass, only meaner, but dont require huge tanks.
I saw some long ear for 15 Us dollars I have also seen dollar sunfish for agian 15 Us dollars. Green sunfish i saw for if i remember 20 Us dollars. I will be back with some pics
i have to admit, they are beutifully marked and the colours are rather nice, now i like them alot. just need to figure out their legality in the UK
Hi, twiisted! You have chosen a group that may be difficult to acquire in the UK. I believe you need to have a license to possess a sunfish in Scotland, and the only species commonly available in Europe is the pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus. If you can figure out the import laws I'm sure many North American vendors would be happy to sell you sunfish. They tend to be moderately priced, about $5-15.
There are too many sunfish species to go through all of them. This list includes commonly kept species, brief description, and typical size:
Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)- olive with dark or reddish spots, blue marks on face, 6-8"
Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)- basslike shape, variously colored, strong blue marks on face, 6-8"
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)- dark vertical bars, long dark ear tab, 8-10"
Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)- brown with dark radiating lines on face, 6-8"
Orange-spotted Sunfish (Lepomis humilis)- female drab, male silvery with bright orange spots and orange in fins, 3-4"
Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus)- olive with bright blue markings on body and face, red belly, 4-5"
Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)- brightest and most variable species, strongly marked with blue, green, red, or orange, 5-6"
There are also three species of dwarf sunfishes in the genus Enneacanthus (banded, blackbanded, and bluespotted sunfish). These are small (usually under 2.5"), shy, beautifully patterned fish. The much smaller pygmy sunfishes (Elassoma species) are not strictly speaking sunfish; they are under 2" in length and do well in small planted tanks.
Sunfish as a group are hardy fish that do well at room temperature and are not fussy about pH, hardness, etc. Most Lepomis species are aggressive with their own kind and other fishes, similar to many American cichlids. Decor that breaks up lines-of-sight and "rooms" helps allow multiple fish to coexist. Unlike cichlids, they do not pair up. If you keep a mixed-sex group it is better to have two or more females for every male. If you just want fish for display, males are usually brighter; however, vendors usually sell unsexed juvenile fish.
Orange-spotted Sunfish and the Enneacanthus species are more peaceful and shy, and prefer lots of cover.
Sunfish are generalized predators. They do well on meaty pellets, seafood, earthworms, etc.; a diet suitable for an oscar or similar cichlid would also be appropriate for sunfish.
There are too many sunfish species to go through all of them. This list includes commonly kept species, brief description, and typical size:
Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)- olive with dark or reddish spots, blue marks on face, 6-8"
Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)- basslike shape, variously colored, strong blue marks on face, 6-8"
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)- dark vertical bars, long dark ear tab, 8-10"
Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)- brown with dark radiating lines on face, 6-8"
Orange-spotted Sunfish (Lepomis humilis)- female drab, male silvery with bright orange spots and orange in fins, 3-4"
Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus)- olive with bright blue markings on body and face, red belly, 4-5"
Longear Sunfish (Lepomis megalotis)- brightest and most variable species, strongly marked with blue, green, red, or orange, 5-6"
There are also three species of dwarf sunfishes in the genus Enneacanthus (banded, blackbanded, and bluespotted sunfish). These are small (usually under 2.5"), shy, beautifully patterned fish. The much smaller pygmy sunfishes (Elassoma species) are not strictly speaking sunfish; they are under 2" in length and do well in small planted tanks.
Sunfish as a group are hardy fish that do well at room temperature and are not fussy about pH, hardness, etc. Most Lepomis species are aggressive with their own kind and other fishes, similar to many American cichlids. Decor that breaks up lines-of-sight and "rooms" helps allow multiple fish to coexist. Unlike cichlids, they do not pair up. If you keep a mixed-sex group it is better to have two or more females for every male. If you just want fish for display, males are usually brighter; however, vendors usually sell unsexed juvenile fish.
Orange-spotted Sunfish and the Enneacanthus species are more peaceful and shy, and prefer lots of cover.
Sunfish are generalized predators. They do well on meaty pellets, seafood, earthworms, etc.; a diet suitable for an oscar or similar cichlid would also be appropriate for sunfish.
Bluespotted Sunfish - Enneacanthus gloriosus - $6.00 each
"Brilliantly speckled Sunfish that enjoys heavily planted tanks"Current Size .5 -.75" / Maximum Size 3-4"
Male
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Green Sunfish - Lepomis cyanellus- $6.00 each
"Aggressive Sunfish that are very Territorial"
Current Size .5-.75'' / Maximum Size 7-10''
Male
________________________________________________________________________
Bantam Sunfish - Lepomis symmetricus - $6.00 each
"Similar in size and aggression to Orangespotted Sunfish"
Current Size .5 - .75" / Maximum Size 4.5"
Male
Female
________________________________________________________________________
Western Dollar Sunfish - Lepomis marginatus - $6.00 each
"Very Colorful Sunfish on the smaller side. Males are very territorial."
Current Size .5 - .75" / Maximum Size 5.5" Male
Female
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Central Missouri Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis- $6.00 each
"Large Deep-bodied Sunfish with Excellent Color!"Current Size: .5 to 1 in / Maximum Size: 6-7 in.
Adult Male
Adult Female
________________________________________________________________________
Northern Longear Sunfish Lepomis peltastes - $6.00 each
"Brilliantly colored with Orange and Blue lines. Favorite fish of many!"Current Size: .5 to 1 in / Maximum Size: 4-5 in.
Adult Male
Adult Female
________________________________________________________________________
Louisiana Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis - $6.00 each
"Colorful strain of longears that are found in backwater areas of Louisiana"
Current Size: .5 to 1 in / Maximum Size: 6-7 in.
Adult Male
Adult Female
________________________________________________________________________
Orangespotted Sunfish Lepomis humilis - $6.00 each
"They are the smallest lepomis species, least aggressive, and one of the most colorful!"
Current Size: .5 to 1 in / Maximum Size: 4.5 in
Adult Male
Adult Female
Juv. Sunfish
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
SPECIAL PRICE - Redspotted Sunfish Lepomis miniatus - $2.00 each
"Feisty and Active Sunfish"
Current Size: 0.75 - 1'' / Maximum Size: 6 to 8 inches
Young Adult Male
Juv. Redspotted
________________________________________________________________________
"Brilliantly speckled Sunfish that enjoys heavily planted tanks"Current Size .5 -.75" / Maximum Size 3-4"
Male
________________________________________________________________________
Green Sunfish - Lepomis cyanellus- $6.00 each
"Aggressive Sunfish that are very Territorial"
Current Size .5-.75'' / Maximum Size 7-10''
Male
________________________________________________________________________
Bantam Sunfish - Lepomis symmetricus - $6.00 each
"Similar in size and aggression to Orangespotted Sunfish"
Current Size .5 - .75" / Maximum Size 4.5"
Male
Female
________________________________________________________________________
Western Dollar Sunfish - Lepomis marginatus - $6.00 each
"Very Colorful Sunfish on the smaller side. Males are very territorial."
Current Size .5 - .75" / Maximum Size 5.5" Male
Female
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Central Missouri Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis- $6.00 each
"Large Deep-bodied Sunfish with Excellent Color!"Current Size: .5 to 1 in / Maximum Size: 6-7 in.
Adult Male
Adult Female
________________________________________________________________________
Northern Longear Sunfish Lepomis peltastes - $6.00 each
"Brilliantly colored with Orange and Blue lines. Favorite fish of many!"Current Size: .5 to 1 in / Maximum Size: 4-5 in.
Adult Male
Adult Female
________________________________________________________________________
Louisiana Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis - $6.00 each
"Colorful strain of longears that are found in backwater areas of Louisiana"
Current Size: .5 to 1 in / Maximum Size: 6-7 in.
Adult Male
Adult Female
________________________________________________________________________
Orangespotted Sunfish Lepomis humilis - $6.00 each
"They are the smallest lepomis species, least aggressive, and one of the most colorful!"
Current Size: .5 to 1 in / Maximum Size: 4.5 in
Adult Male
Adult Female
Juv. Sunfish
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
SPECIAL PRICE - Redspotted Sunfish Lepomis miniatus - $2.00 each
"Feisty and Active Sunfish"
Current Size: 0.75 - 1'' / Maximum Size: 6 to 8 inches
Young Adult Male
Juv. Redspotted
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