Sunfish dancing

[Anthony Nolet]

Does anyone know how to tell the gender of pumpkinseeds?

 

[divemaster99]

Pretty much any sunfish in the Lepomis genus can hybridize with each other so yeah you'll get some hybrid fry if the surviv, which they probably won't with a catfish in the tank. For most Lepomis sunfish, males tend to be bigger and brighter colored than females who are smaller and duller.

 

[Anthony Nolet]

The hybrid is in a tank with other small sunfish and no catfish. The bluegill is in a different tank with the catfish

 

[Gill Blue]

Thats a nice tank bro! Still running?

yup. there's a newer vid in the just because thread.

That's weird that it's a mating this since the bluegill is alone with a catfish. And the hybrid has been in the tank for only like 3 days and is only 3-4".

not weird in the slightest. from what I've read, male sunnies tend to arrive at the mating grounds first, then the fems come in and choose the fish/nest she likes best. he's making the nest waiting for the ladies.

 

[MN_Rebel]

Depends on what species that made this hybrid they may be fertile or not. Unfortunately pumpkinseed x green hybrids are usually infertile. Males of hybrids in the nature will never successfully wooed a female sunfish and they will spending many days guarding of an empty nest with no eggs in it. This is the nature way to slow down the hybridization.