hi i have a 55 gallon tank and was wondering what kind of sunfish is colorful and would like to have atleast two or more and suggestions?
what is the most colorful type of sunfish
Started by
Guest_Alex95_*
, Jul 25 2010 12:19 PM
19 replies to this topic
#5
Guest_NVCichlids_*
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Posted 25 July 2010 - 02:47 PM
Depends on what type of colors your looking for. My personal favorite for colors is the longear, but if you want more bright colors, the orangespotted would be a good second. I have seen some pumkinseeds rival the orangepotted sunfish as well.
#9
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Posted 25 July 2010 - 07:03 PM
From what ive read theyre rare because of hybridization, but I think the most beautifull sunfish is the Florida Bluegill, L. macrochirus purpurescens the pictures Ive seen show they can sometimes get a blueish/purplish sheen during mating season that to me rivals the beautifull Longear,Dollar,Redbreast and Pumpkinseeds; another cool sunfish is the Handpaint Bluegill that has spots (look for Centrarchids Thread on his trip with pictures). The most beautifull Sunfish Ive ever seen in real life were Longears in a tank at the Shepherd of the Hills fish hatchery (Central longears are sure hard to beat!)and if your only going to have two or three ive been told a 55 is good for Longear.
Edited by wargreen, 25 July 2010 - 07:08 PM.
#12
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Posted 11 August 2010 - 06:49 AM
Isn't that a pumpkinseed in that picture?
I think it's a northern longear (he mentions that in the post afterward - and I see no pumpkinseed). They have the red on the gill spot.
I personally think longear are the most colorful, as far as color year-round. There are others that are beautifully colorful during spawning, but most longear keep nice color in general.
The fish in my avatar is a longear.
Edited by ShadowBass, 11 August 2010 - 06:51 AM.
#13
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Posted 13 August 2010 - 02:12 PM
Yes the photo is of one of my female northern longears which do have the red spot at the end of the opercular tab much like a pumpkinseed. I think that the longear sunfish is the most colorful sunfish followed by the western strain of dollar sunfish. Longears vary so much from one place to the next so it is hard to say which form is the most colorful, they are all nice just a little different. Here are a few photos...
Male Western Dollar Sunfish
Male Central Longear from Upper Ohio River Basin
Male Longear from LA
Male Northern Longear from Lake Erie Drainage in OH
Male Longear from MO
Male Western Dollar Sunfish
Male Central Longear from Upper Ohio River Basin
Male Longear from LA
Male Northern Longear from Lake Erie Drainage in OH
Male Longear from MO
#14
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Posted 13 August 2010 - 03:56 PM
Here are a few photos...
I notice you have a pic of one from MO.
How about a picture of a male from Sam A. Baker state park, Big Creek, in southeast Missouri. They are about the most prevalent sunfish there. One of several I had in my tank. (looks odd due to angle taken from and aquarium glass). The fish in my avatar came from the same location.
Edited by ShadowBass, 13 August 2010 - 03:58 PM.
#15
Guest_schambers_*
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Posted 13 August 2010 - 04:01 PM
I saw a longear like Brian's Lake Erie drainage example yesterday. Even at August's high temperatures it was a beautiful fish, colored just like his photograph. They don't get as big as some of the others, but they are great looking.
#16
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Posted 16 August 2010 - 03:42 PM
Yes the photo is of one of my female northern longears which do have the red spot at the end of the opercular tab much like a pumpkinseed. I think that the longear sunfish is the most colorful sunfish followed by the western strain of dollar sunfish. Longears vary so much from one place to the next so it is hard to say which form is the most colorful, they are all nice just a little different. Here are a few photos...
Male Western Dollar Sunfish
Male Central Longear from Upper Ohio River Basin
Male Longear from LA
Male Northern Longear from Lake Erie Drainage in OH
Male Longear from MO
Do you find in particular the western dollar strain nicer than dollars from other areas?
#20
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Posted 20 August 2010 - 01:29 AM
I need to take a new picture of my pumpkinseed some time, he's very colorful.
orange spots, blue striped cheeks, orange belly, and bright red fins. Oddly enough he didn't have the red fins when i got him and I never seen red fins on a wild pumpkinseed (though some breeding males get blue fins). I wonder if it is a reaction to feeding krill as one of the frozen foods.
orange spots, blue striped cheeks, orange belly, and bright red fins. Oddly enough he didn't have the red fins when i got him and I never seen red fins on a wild pumpkinseed (though some breeding males get blue fins). I wonder if it is a reaction to feeding krill as one of the frozen foods.
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