Sex This Green Sunfish

[CHUFF]

Ok so I think I have a plan. I know a really good spot at my local lake with TONS if juvi green sunfish. I'm going to put on a tiny hook with a bent barb there and keep catching them until I can find one with distinct darker coloration and more vivid colors then I'll take it home in a minnow bucket and out it into my 30 long with the female green that's already in there and the darter pair I have in there now (darters will be moved by the time the sunfish put on some attitude). I'll see how the sunfish do together (peaceful or aggressive) and if they're peaceful towards each other I'll keep them both in there and just keep up on water changes. If I see any aggression issues I'll just put the female into my 75 gallon with a few other sunfish and a few tropicals. Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against the green I've got now, she has great personality. I'm just looking for something with lots of color and size (like I've already said) since it's going to be the (possible) solo fish in my 30.

Greensunfish dont get very big..even in the wild. They can be a little more aggresive then other sunfish, but you should be fine with two in a 30g long with a good amount of substract. You may have better luck getting 2 to pair up if you get like 5 or 6 in there and just keep the two that get along.

 

[divemaster99]

Greensunfish dont get very big..even in the wild. They can be a little more aggresive then other sunfish, but you should be fine with two in a 30g long with a good amount of substract. You may have better luck getting 2 to pair up if you get like 5 or 6 in there and just keep the two that get along.

Thing is I don't definitely have somebody to give them to, I'm not sure if the guy I know at the pond wants greens. He said he'd take bluegills and pumpkinseeds because he already has them but I don't know if he wants greens. I actually just got back from fishing now and was catching tons if not all male green sunfish, ranging in size from 3" to a monster I caught that was easily 8" !!! I was actually tempted to keep one tonight but the one I would've kept was nesting with a female that I saw over a nest so I out it back.

I'll probably go fishing with barbless hooks on Monday to try to catch a male green somewhere in the 2.5-3.5" range. I think we actually caught only 2 (what looked like) females tonight and the other 20 or so were definite males since they were very dark colored with distinct bars and some nice orange on their fin filament.

 

[Tylor]

Nice green sunfish, I'm in the same process of trying to establish a breeding pair in my 55 gallon

 

[Anthony Nolet]

Are you saying only the males get the dark lines on their sides?

 

[divemaster99]

Wow, where'd this thread come from lol. Just an update for those wondering: I still have the fish now and she's about ~5" living in a 30 long by herself, going in a 125 soon though.

 

[Anthony Nolet]

Lol I didn't even notice it was an old thread but I was curious about how you were still finding them all over the place. It all makes sense now

 

[mattyice572]

Most likely a female judging by fin structure but if its large enough and you have a keen eye, you can flip the fish over and find the vent near the anal fin. A male vent will look different than a femal vent, try a google search for fish vent to see the difference

 

[divemaster99]

She's definitely a female, I've known that since last year. Putting some girth on too, pounds gambusia as a treat!