I know people post stocking questions all the time, and I am not looking for actual stocking suggestions. What I am looking for is some rules of thumb to go by.
Here are some basic questions I have:
1) Are there some Sunfish that mix with other species better than others?
2) Would it make more sense to try to keep a small school of a single sunfish species, or is it better to keep 1 or 2 of a couple different breeds?
3) Are there any rules for how many to keep based on tank size. For instance, I saw a recommendation over at NANFA for 1 fish for every 10 gallons, but this kind of stinks of the bogus one inch per gallon rule. For instance, I don't think keeping 12 Sunfish in a 120 gallon tank would work out, would it?
4) Are there other fish types that mix better with sunfish than others, for instance, if I wanted to add a grass pickerel or stonecat, would one be better than other, or would another species all together be better.
Now for some specifics, I plan on getting a 5foot 120 gallon tank (60x18x24). I was thinking of doing 6-8 Nothern Longears, a Grass Pickerel, and then some sort of bottom feeder (stone cat or brown bullhead). I was also thinking about adding a single Green or Pumpkinseed and/or a Yellow Perch. Any opinions?
Here are some basic questions I have:
1) Are there some Sunfish that mix with other species better than others?
2) Would it make more sense to try to keep a small school of a single sunfish species, or is it better to keep 1 or 2 of a couple different breeds?
3) Are there any rules for how many to keep based on tank size. For instance, I saw a recommendation over at NANFA for 1 fish for every 10 gallons, but this kind of stinks of the bogus one inch per gallon rule. For instance, I don't think keeping 12 Sunfish in a 120 gallon tank would work out, would it?
4) Are there other fish types that mix better with sunfish than others, for instance, if I wanted to add a grass pickerel or stonecat, would one be better than other, or would another species all together be better.
Now for some specifics, I plan on getting a 5foot 120 gallon tank (60x18x24). I was thinking of doing 6-8 Nothern Longears, a Grass Pickerel, and then some sort of bottom feeder (stone cat or brown bullhead). I was also thinking about adding a single Green or Pumpkinseed and/or a Yellow Perch. Any opinions?