Pygmy sunfish tank mates

What are suitble pygmy sunfish tank mates (can dollar sunfish be kept with pygmy i doubt it because of the size diffenence).

My understanding is that Dollars are some of the meaner and more territorial sunfish, so doubt that.

What are suitble pygmy sunfish tank mates?

They max out at an inch. Their fry are the size of grains of sand. Don't mix them with stuff if you want them to live.

Edit: Also, why would you need to mix them? Pygmy sunfish only need about a 10 gallon tank to be happy for generations. That's not too big of a waste of space for a species-only tank.

Edited by EricaWieser, 30 September 2010 - 11:03 PM.

Pygmies would be bite-size snacks for dollar sunfish. There are possible suitable tankmates, especially small, gentle darters, killifish, and livebearers. Swamp darters and bluefin killies are often available as stowaways in batches of feeder ghost shrimp and would work well. Pygmy killies, least livebearers, and certain tropicals such as Endler's livebearers would also work. Any of these fish would leave adults pygmy sunfish alone but might feed on fry, so keep that in mind. Small shrimps such as the various colorful Neocaridina species are another option.

...Small shrimps such as the various colorful Neocaridina species are another option.

I don't necessarily disagree, but would like to say something in addition.
I would like to add the opinion that if you are feeding microworms to your pygmy sunfish tank like I do for the fry to eat, the shrimp will be a hindrance because they will eat the microworms. If you don't have shrimp, the microworms remain wiggling underwater for a half life of about 24 hours. Without shrimp, simply adding microworms once a day will be a continuous source of live food for your pygmy sunfish fry. But if you do have shrimp, then all of the microworms will be gone within a couple hours, and the fry will have to scrounge up food somehow somewhere else.

I personally removed the shrimp from my pygmy sunfish tank in order to keep the microworms around for 24 hours instead of only a few hours.
It's just something to keep in mind.

The best tank mate for pygmy sunfish in my opinion is a colony of blackworms. If you've got a colony of blackworms in your pygmy sunfish tank, then you never need to feed the fish. Ever. They just eat the blackworms and are fine.

Edited by EricaWieser, 01 October 2010 - 07:38 AM.

Erica likes the worms especially because she gets to see them more than the pygmies, and they dont run and hide |;>)
You will still need to add food for any pygmy fry (rotifers, fresh-hatched brine, microworms ...) They cant eat blackworms.
I second the votes for swamp darter and pygmy kiilie (Leptolucania). Bluefin killies maybe; I've seen some pretty mean ones.

The best tank mate for pygmy sunfish in my opinion is a colony of blackworms. If you've got a colony of blackworms in your pygmy sunfish tank, then you never need to feed the fish. Ever. They just eat the blackworms and are fine.

Edited by gerald, 01 October 2010 - 09:59 AM.

You can go with least killifish as well. The larger pygmies however seem to eat the young and the smaller male Heterandria. I've just introduced red cherry shrimp to the tank a couple of weeks ago and it seems to be working.

I am agree with Drew that you should try to go with killifish. I am sure it will be the best option and will bring the best for you. Good Luck.....

I'm posting to share my [unexpected] success at mixing pygmy sunfish, Xiphophorus hellerii (swordtails), Betta splendens, and Neolamprologus multifasciatus (multies, tiny shell dwelling cichlids from Tanganyika). I didn't expect everyone to get along, but they do. Straange.

Video of Elassoma gilberti juvenile exploring my 55 gallon tank:


I still think the pygmy sunfish do best with just worms as tankmates. The 10 gallon I have with just that combo is exploding with sunfish now. They've fed and bred like crazy.