Longear Sunfish Questions

[stumpy041486]

Hey
What is the minimum size tank for a longear sunfish? What types of food should I feed a longear? I recently caught one that I am considering submiting for a state record in fly fishing. I also may keep him. I have him in a tank right now atleast until I get him weighed and certified. Will they eat flake food, or should I try something live? He was really pale when I put him in the tank, is this from stress?
Thanks for any info.

 

[sostoudt]

probably 40 gallons when its full grown, gets little over 9 inches. sunfish are very active fish.

cichlid food is whats recommended to me. dont expect it to eat pellets right off you may need live at first.
i have 2 bluegills in a tank right now still trying to get them to eat pellets they just spit it out. but ive only had one for 2 days the other not even a day.
paleness is probably from stress.

 

[sostoudt]

do you catch alot of longears? i remember wattamelon is looking for a source of them.

 

[Noto]

Sunnies change color depending on both stress and surroundings. Add some driftwood, plants, etc. and he'll brighten up. I would start him on live inverts (nightcrawlers, ghost shrimp, small crayfish) and try to wean him on to meaty pellets. Sunfish will learn to take flake, but it's kind of a waste of time trying to keep a good-sized fish fed on flake food.

 

[oscarcrazy]

post a pic of this monster longear.

 

[Mikeberg]

How big was it?
Length & weight please.

 

[stumpy041486]

Thanks for all of the comments. Here is a pic. The pic is not really good.

 

[Louie]

Great looking fish. I understand they are "killers" ?.

 

[TheKrow]

They've got attitude bro.

 

[WattaMelon]

Great looking fish. I understand they are "killers" ?.

Not any more than all of the other larger sunfish species. Greens might be the at the top of the mean-heap though.