What type of sunfish

[dominicolas]

I've been fishing these fish and others for a while but now that I keep some in fish tanks I was wondring what species it really is. I thought that this one was a longear (because of the white around the ear) but it seems to be the wrong shape. Could it be a hybrid? And yes that is rafiki in the bottom of the pictures.

 

[meepster]

that is a longear sunfish, Lepomis megalotis. It's not a hybrid. Longears are really colorful.

 

[dominicolas]

Why, in other pictures of longears i see, are the bodies of the fish much deeper.

 

[teleost]

If you start feeding that fish more, it will look as you would expect it to. I think it's just a bit underfed.

I also feel strongly that is a longear.

 

[cmj15]

yea that is a longear, wish i had one for my aquarium

 

[dominicolas]

I think that I keep him very well fed but perhaps you are right. How much should I be feeding him. BTY I like to feed him live fish, crickets, worms, etc.

 

[cmj15]

that is a good diet but it gets a little expensive and tiresome if you have to buy the live food or go catch. try getting it on a flake/pellet diet, my sunfish took to falkes the day i brought them home

 

[static catfish]

I see those in a pond near my bike route,there usually sitting in a bowl shaped area.if i get on does it need anything special.by the way im in new york.

 

[sandtiger]

Pellets really seem to fatten them up quickly. With all the sunfish species I have kept them seemed to exhibit the fastest growth once they started a pellet based diet. Most sunfish will take them with little problem. If your does it may be because the pellets are so hard so try soaking them first or using a softer brand pellet.

 

[dominicolas]

He eats pellets just fine I just prefer to keep him on a more natural diet in case I ever chose to release him. Also he eats my catfish's bottom feeder pellets.