9 replies to this topic

[ArgentBadger]

Hey all,

 

I have a fully cycled 75g that's had 4 pugnose minnows in it for a few months now, and I just brought home 3 2-3 inch redbreast sunfish.  The sunnies all pretty small right now, should I keep the number low or add a few more as if I was stocking cichlids?

 

Thanks for your input!

[gerald]

Like cichlids, starting with a larger group of young might reduce aggression as they grow - no promises!

[ArgentBadger]

I'll go back out tomorrow and catch a few more, then, and hopefully it will work out.  If it doesn't, I'll pick a pretty male to keep as a single fish and see if my friend who has a pond wants a few more bream since I know I can't throw them back in the river once they've been in my tank.

 

Thanks!

[littlen]

I found Redbreast to be a little less aggressive and territorial than some of the other Lepomis species.  However, they do get large so that might end up being your limiting factor.  But you should have fun for a while with a bunch of juveniles.  If you happen to net an adult, I'd be curious to see what your southern Reds look like.

[ArgentBadger]

I found Redbreast to be a little less aggressive and territorial than some of the other Lepomis species.  However, they do get large so that might end up being your limiting factor.  But you should have fun for a while with a bunch of juveniles.  If you happen to net an adult, I'd be curious to see what your southern Reds look like.

Sure thing!  We caught 7 or 8 juvenile redbreast, green, and bluegills, and this was the only adult redbreast we caught.  It was very pretty, so I took a picture.  This was out of the North Oconee River. 

[ArgentBadger]

Actually, now I'm kind of paranoid I misidentified one of the juveniles I brought home.  I can't tell if it's a redbreast or a green.  It's kinda pale in this pic since it's right after adding to my tank, but what do you guys think?

[Dustin]

That's a redbreast.

[littlen]

Good looking fish! Males are nice and fired up.

[Matt DeLaVega]

I would hazard a guess that a trio of adults would be pretty comfy in a 75.  Throw in some shiners larger than their mouths, or some larger chubs, and you could have a pretty active tank. I like Gerald's Idea of stocking a bit heavy now, allowing them to grow, and weed out problem fish.

[Michael Wolfe]

That's a redbreast.

Agree, that is what our N Ga Redbreast look like when small.