you can buy natives from jonahsaquarium.com or you could go to creeks, ponds, and rivers and try to catch them
native fish
- Thread starter flower1982
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Rockbass6, a bluegill WILL outgrow a 20g, even a 20 high. A 13" fish of any kind in a 20g tank is nothing but torcher for the fish. Bluegill need at least a 55 gallon aquarium.
Bluespotted sunfish are a wonderful choice as they're beautiful and stay small. Most of us collect our own fish from nearby creeks and ponds. Go to the NANFA forum and check some of the vendors. Or just ask around. A lot of native fish keepers will happily get someone fish and ship them for just the price of shipping, or trade for other fish.
Bluespotted sunfish are a wonderful choice as they're beautiful and stay small. Most of us collect our own fish from nearby creeks and ponds. Go to the NANFA forum and check some of the vendors. Or just ask around. A lot of native fish keepers will happily get someone fish and ship them for just the price of shipping, or trade for other fish.
fishlvr;1385380; said:
Why do you guys buy native bluegill and sunfish from these vendors when you can go out and catch them for free? I have never seen a bluegill around over 10'' in the wild where I live so I was never concerned about them getting that big. Also the perch I was telling you about was in a 40 gal I found out. It was prob 5 or 6 years ago so my bad on that, but honestly if you dont have a heater in your tank your bluegill will never come close to 13''. Measure them sometime I would love to see a 13'' bluegill! 10'' would be a monster even for Lake Erie.
Rockbass6;1385663; said:
We don't buy bluegill. We buy fish we CAN'T catch on our own. For instance, I'm buying some bantam sunfish from one of those vendors because they live nowhere near me. Why waste $50+ in gas when I can get a pair for $12 plus $10 shipping? I just saved $18. Money saved is money earned. Also, the fish from at least one of these vendors captive breeds the fish he sells, which keeps us from having to take fish from the wild.
Bluegill will grow throughout their lifetime, no matter where they're at. If they're given a controlled environment with enough food and good water quality, they'll get up to 15". I've personally grown one to 10". It died from aggression with the other males, which is another reason these guys need larger tanks. If your not giving them enough food and good water quality, you shouldn't have them anyways, because that just means you're not taking care of them. It may take a year or two, but a bluegill WILL outgrow a 20 gallon. Even a 10" fish of any species should not be cramped in a 20 gallon tank.
Jonah's aquarium is a consistantly goo source for USA natives.
There are lots that can be kept in a 20g ranging from the smaller sunnies to various daces and chubs, madtoms, or even pirate perch. If you are lucky you may even find some locals like bluedotted sunnies that you can catch.
Rockbass, you are way offbase, bluegill can get over 4 lbs and more than 16" long, this one is not even that big but if you keep a fish this size in a 20g you should stop keeping fish
There are lots that can be kept in a 20g ranging from the smaller sunnies to various daces and chubs, madtoms, or even pirate perch. If you are lucky you may even find some locals like bluedotted sunnies that you can catch.
Rockbass, you are way offbase, bluegill can get over 4 lbs and more than 16" long, this one is not even that big but if you keep a fish this size in a 20g you should stop keeping fish
guppy;1386187; said:
Guppy I guess you don't understand where I'm coming from. Our state record bluegill is 2 1/2 pounds that is the biggest EVER caught in the history of my state so I am NOT way off base... For you telling me to stop fish keeping for keeping a little bluegill in a 20 gal is really uncalled for. I would LOVE to see the day our bluegill reach the size of a legal size smallmouth!! More people would fish for them if they did, but they dont. So people around here fish for steelhead instead.
Ban me or whatever but you know Im right.
If I get native fish I'll probably end up buying them. I hardly ever go fishing anymore and don't know the differences between the different kinds of native fish yet. Thanks for the website cmj15 and fishlver. I really appreciate it. 
