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what is the most colorful type of sunfish


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#1 Guest_Alex95_*

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Posted 25 July 2010 - 12:19 PM

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?

#2 Guest_njJohn_*

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Posted 25 July 2010 - 12:37 PM

Orange Spotted JMO

#3 Guest_swordtail72_*

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Posted 25 July 2010 - 12:57 PM

Longears...

Attached Images

  • FemaleNorthern Longear Sunfish - Lepomis peltastes.jpg

Edited by swordtail72, 25 July 2010 - 01:02 PM.


#4 Guest_swordtail72_*

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Posted 25 July 2010 - 01:11 PM

1st pic was a Fem. & this 1 is a male N.Longear both are Zimmerman's

Edited by swordtail72, 25 July 2010 - 01:40 PM.


#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.

#6 Guest_donkeyman876_*

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Posted 25 July 2010 - 03:42 PM

I'm a pumpkinseed man but it all really depends on personal opinion. Look around the interweb and see what you can find, also look into maintenance of the fish too so you are sure you an care for them.

#7 Guest_moxostoma_*

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Posted 25 July 2010 - 04:32 PM

I would say Orangespotted, then Longear.

#8 Guest_Alex95_*

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Posted 25 July 2010 - 05:50 PM

thanks

#9 Guest_wargreen_*

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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.


#10 Guest_donkeyman876_*

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Posted 25 July 2010 - 07:39 PM

oooo Hand-painted Bluegills are beautiful, hard to find, but beautiful!

#11 Guest_bjbass_*

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Posted 06 August 2010 - 08:38 AM

Longears...


Isn't that a pumpkinseed in that picture?

#12 Guest_ShadowBass_*

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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 Guest_smbass_*

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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 W. Dollar Sunfish.JPG

Male Central Longear from Upper Ohio River Basin
Male Central Longear Sunfish1 from Niehause Pond 25JUN2010 by BZ.JPG

Male Longear from LA
Male LA longear sunfish.JPG

Male Northern Longear from Lake Erie Drainage in OH
Male N. Longear Sunfish.JPG

Male Longear from MO
Male MO Longear Sunfish3 Sunfish by BZ.JPG

#14 Guest_ShadowBass_*

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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.

Posted Image

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 Guest_Sal_*

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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 W. Dollar Sunfish.JPG

Male Central Longear from Upper Ohio River Basin
Male Central Longear Sunfish1 from Niehause Pond 25JUN2010 by BZ.JPG

Male Longear from LA
Male LA longear sunfish.JPG

Male Northern Longear from Lake Erie Drainage in OH
Male N. Longear Sunfish.JPG

Male Longear from MO
Male MO Longear Sunfish3 Sunfish by BZ.JPG



Do you find in particular the western dollar strain nicer than dollars from other areas?

#17 Guest_smbass_*

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Posted 18 August 2010 - 10:43 PM

yes I find the western dollar sunfish to be more colorful than other strains. The eastern ones lack nearly all the red and do not have the blue flecks out on the opercular flap like the western.

#18 Guest_panfisherteen_*

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Posted 19 August 2010 - 11:23 AM

I really like the looks of natureman's orangespots (in his pic thread)

#19 Guest_Sal_*

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Posted 19 August 2010 - 10:36 PM

yes I find the western dollar sunfish to be more colorful than other strains. The eastern ones lack nearly all the red and do not have the blue flecks out on the opercular flap like the western.



Thanks

#20 Guest_FirstChAoS_*

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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.



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