Redspotted Sunfish

I was looking through the member gallery and seen a pic. from Rick Wilcox of a redspotted sunfish. Do they normally have that bright of blue coloring or is that a local TX trait? I just started a planted sunfish tank w/ 7 3" mixed species green/bluegill/pumpkinseed/Hybrid. But after seeing that redspotted i'd relly like to get 1 male to swap out 1 hybrid for. Anybody got a bright redspotted they would willing to rehome or trade for any of mine?? Or a dealer to get 1 from as long as i could see a pic. of it before hand? Also would be interested in a very bright colored Longear being i have never see one of them in the MN lakes i've fished. Thanks for any help Cory

All of the colored up ones I've seen between West Texas and West Louisiana are more of a dark blue/purple with red spots and red and turquoise eyes. Some have very pronounced colors, but are bold and not pastel. Maybe a flash caused the fish to look like that in the pic?

I agree with Robby. The fish in Rick's photo is obviously influenced by the flash. This is not typical coloration for this fish.

The fish is flashed, but the colors are pretty accurate. And the red spots are a lot more faded out than when I originally collected it. The redspotted sunfish in the lower Colorado River (of Texas, around Columbus) are much more colorful than those farther north in their range. This fish was especially nice (which is why I kept it). The males in this area color up bright red, more so than even some central longears. There are a few pics online of similarly colored "normal" and "breeding color" redspotted sunfish from the Colorado River around Columbus.

"Normal" (not my pic)
http://diefische.org...nfish.jpg?w=485

"Breeding" (not my pic)
http://i68.photobuck...ttedsunfish.jpg

The browns and bronzes really stand out on these fish, along with the blue/purple shading and white edges on the unpaired fins. The red spots are generally distinct, though you do get some variation with the spots being a dusky orange and somewhat "fuzzy".

Rick

Omg I need one of these! Such cool sunfish!

Ricks, would you be able to get me one? I know this might not be possible and this is way OT but I have a 62 gallon Lepomis tank and I would love one.