What would be an appropriate tank size for the redbreasted sunfish? From what I hear they attain a maximum size of 11 cm.
Tank size for red breasted sunfish
- Thread starter fish042099
- Start date
shouldn't need anything that big, what sized tanks do u have? or are thinkin about putting it in?
They get bigger than that, Ive grown them out to over 14 cm and he was still growing steady when I got rid of him. I only had him in a 37 tall, which was too small for him. In this tank, he claimed the whole tank as his territory and other fish were not allowed to use it lol. depending on personality youll want to go bigger than a 55 g.
At first, I'd say that you'd want a 55 gal + tank for sure. But, it depends on what you want to keep with it.
When I kept my first redbreast (caught him at 2''), he went into a 46 gallon with a bunch of spotfin shiners, a 1'' bluegill and a 1'' green. After the redbreast reached 5 inches (the other sunnies at 3''), it was like a switch turned on. It killed the bluegill and the green, and constantly chased the shiners. The shiners were also 4'', and could get away, but they constantly were harassed. So, a 46 gallon was fine if you ONLY want ONE redbreast. But if you want several, I'd say 55 gal minimum, but a 75 gal with a larger footprint would be better.
As a side note, I have kept redbreasts since then with better results. I kept 4 redbreasts and 2 greens in the same tank. They were crowded, and couldn't really set up territories. But they simply got too big for the current tank, and I didn't keep them long after sexual maturity.
When I kept my first redbreast (caught him at 2''), he went into a 46 gallon with a bunch of spotfin shiners, a 1'' bluegill and a 1'' green. After the redbreast reached 5 inches (the other sunnies at 3''), it was like a switch turned on. It killed the bluegill and the green, and constantly chased the shiners. The shiners were also 4'', and could get away, but they constantly were harassed. So, a 46 gallon was fine if you ONLY want ONE redbreast. But if you want several, I'd say 55 gal minimum, but a 75 gal with a larger footprint would be better.
As a side note, I have kept redbreasts since then with better results. I kept 4 redbreasts and 2 greens in the same tank. They were crowded, and couldn't really set up territories. But they simply got too big for the current tank, and I didn't keep them long after sexual maturity.
Why start another thread about the same exact topic?
A one inch individual will be fine by itself in a 15 gallon for a while (a year maybe, depending on your feeding regimes, quality, etc). But if you plan on giving this thing a healthy life, then you will have to get a larger tank, and feed high quality pellets. These fish get to be about 10 inches, not 10 cm. My first redbreast was caught at two inches and reached 5 inches in about 6 months, and was 7 inches within the year. If you are starting with a younger individual, you might get quicker growth. Just be prepared to get a new tank.
A one inch individual will be fine by itself in a 15 gallon for a while (a year maybe, depending on your feeding regimes, quality, etc). But if you plan on giving this thing a healthy life, then you will have to get a larger tank, and feed high quality pellets. These fish get to be about 10 inches, not 10 cm. My first redbreast was caught at two inches and reached 5 inches in about 6 months, and was 7 inches within the year. If you are starting with a younger individual, you might get quicker growth. Just be prepared to get a new tank.