125 gallon Sunfish Tank

Here's the latest picture, nearly 100% clear.

Not sure if anyone cares, but I decided to put a warmouth from my pond into the tank to break up a few territories. Even though there are as many fish as I have there are still problems. Not to worry, though, once the Longears are large enough some fish will be moved to my 40 gallon.

Edited by Yeahson421, 10 September 2011 - 10:56 PM.

I was tempted to add a small warmouth to my 55 with 4 longears but decided to throw him back. I was not sure of their character in a tank so decided not to risk it. I am interested in what others say about them too.

Usil

Nice looking little fellow. How severe are your aggression problems getting? I just had to separate some juvenile sunfish the other day due to aggression issues. During the netting process, I looked back over my shoulder and I could see my 12.5" SMB watching intently as if saying "Hey, I've got a plan ". Something told me not to trust his idea so I went ahead with the reshuffling process and everyone seems happy now. Hope the introduction of the warmouth helps out.

Steve.

I was tempted to add a small warmouth to my 55 with 4 longears but decided to throw him back. I was not sure of their character in a tank so decided not to risk it. I am interested in what others say about them too.

Usil

I've heard that they are fairly mild mannered, and they are also VERY nice looking. It's a win win.

Nice looking little fellow. How severe are your aggression problems getting?

Oh, they aren't too bad. My Largest Pumpkinseed is attempting to rise up the ranks and be the boss of the tank. Once I add the Longears everything will be great. In the mean time I hadded to add someone else so I thought "Why not my beutiful Warmouth?"

I just had to separate some juvenile sunfish the other day due to aggression issues. During the netting process, I looked back over my shoulder and I could see my 12.5" SMB watching intently as if saying "Hey, I've got a plan ". Something told me not to trust his idea so I went ahead with the reshuffling process and everyone seems happy now.

Ha! My Bass would always get excited when he saw me carrying around a bag or net full of fish! "I only want to play!"

Edited by Yeahson421, 11 September 2011 - 09:44 AM.

Warmouth are rather mild mannered as far as Lepomis go. You just have to remember they still have the big mouth so not tank mates that are too much smaller. They rarely cause problems with one another or other sunfish when in a group and the smaller more aggressive species seem to be intimidated by their size so in turn leave them alone as well. I have one in my big sunfish tank and it just lurks in the shadows except during feeding time. In highschool I had a group of 5 of them in a 55 gallon tank. Three of them were males and 2 were females. I had a lot of rocks in there and had the tank broke up into three sections. Each male had its own nest and the females would spawn about every week or two as long as I kept them well fed and in the 70's. I would consider them to be similar in aggression to bantams and orangespotted sunfish.

They rarely cause problems with one another or other sunfish when in a group and the smaller more aggressive species seem to be intimidated by their size so in turn leave them alone as well.

I have seen exactly what Brian is describing here. After having 5 dollar sunfish and the largest male beating up all others in the tank, I added a warmouth about a year ago. The male warmouth is very mild, but his size and presence alone (lurking front and center) has kept the bully dollar male in a bit more of a docile (hardly the right word) state. I have never witnessed any chasing from the warmouth, but the others seem to be a bit more intimidated by his size and refusal to move if approached by the dollar males. I love the temperament and ever-changing colors and patterns of warmouth, and if you have the space they are great fish to keep.

I am getting a little tired of my Texas longear taking center stage and cowering all others into the back corner. I just got the tank arranged and planted so don't want to try rearranging things and don't want to take out the dominant longear. Maybe I should try adding a warmouth. Caught one a few days ago about 5 inches long and considered keeping it.

Usil

I love the temperament and ever-changing colors and patterns of warmouth, and if you have the space they are great fish to keep.

I didn't realize that they changed colors - how so? From the photographs I've seen, I always thought they were a rather drab-looking fish. I guess this is not the case?

I am getting a little tired of my Texas longear taking center stage and cowering all others into the back corner. I just got the tank arranged and planted so don't want to try rearranging things and don't want to take out the dominant longear. Maybe I should try adding a warmouth. Caught one a few days ago about 5 inches long and considered keeping it.

Usil

Warmouth are one of those species that you may want to start with a smaller specimen. Especially if you want to get it on prepared foods. When I've kept sunfish, I've always tried to keep the smallest I could as they adapt a lot easier.

I didn't realize that they changed colors - how so? From the photographs I've seen, I always thought they were a rather drab-looking fish. I guess this is not the case?

They are usually pretty drab looking but some are pretty nice. If you can get them from tannin stained waters, they tend to be a bit more colorful.

Yeah - I think colorful was the wrong word for me to choose . I think I just like that depending on mood, time of day, other sunfish in close proximity and feeding time, they will change color patterns. For instance, in the mornings, my largest warmouth (Georgia piedmont) is nearly jet black with brown markings. However for most of the day it is a tan-green color with golden flecks on its flanks. During feeding time, all dark greens black disappear and the fish is mostly light brown.
A younger individual is a pale grey color in the mornings - honestly looks like it's sick or something (fish from somewhere in the Atlantic coastal plain - not sure where it was caught since it was given to me). This fish tends to be a dark green color, with a pale red tint to its belly and rear. This fish has teal flecks rather than golden flecks of my other individual. I wonder if this may be a difference in capture location...
So yes, not necessarily colorful, but can change what little color it has relatively fast.

Edited by UncleWillie, 12 September 2011 - 03:46 PM.

I've also noticed my Warmouth change colors frequently. I've seen him go from what he looks like in the picture to nearly translucent. They are a very interesting fish.