Bluegill coloration

Hi, I have been keepinf fresh and saltwater fish for about 20 years, but have just recently started a native tank. I currently have 3 small bluegill in a 75 gallon tank. They are eating fine, but their color is not as bright as when they were caught. They had bright orange breasts and blue flecs in the scales and a flash of blue in the tail. They are currently very dark, only color is the blue gill rake, the vertical bars are somewhat visible. Can I add extra cover to reduce stress or offer different foods? Thanks for your help in advance.

When were they added to the aquarium? They probably just need time to adjust. Try giving them earthworms or bloodworms(frozen or live) as food. I've caught bluegill that eat an hour after they were put into the aquarium, and, IME, feeding them helps relieve their stress.

Hi, I have been keepinf fresh and saltwater fish for about 20 years, but have just recently started a native tank. I currently have 3 small bluegill in a 75 gallon tank. They are eating fine, but their color is not as bright as when they were caught. They had bright orange breasts and blue flecs in the scales and a flash of blue in the tail. They are currently very dark, only color is the blue gill rake, the vertical bars are somewhat visible. Can I add extra cover to reduce stress or offer different foods? Thanks for your help in advance.

Could you post a picture? I have bluegill from throughout its natural range and bright orange breast with blue flecs on scales reads suspecisous.

Could you post a picture? I have bluegill from throughout its natural range and bright orange breast with blue flecs on scales reads suspecisous.

I totally understand what you mean. I thought redbreast, but my dad has always called them bluegill. They have the blue on their gill rakes. I will take a picture when I go back to the park of the way they look from the lake. When they come out of the water they are as beautiful as any discus I have ever seen. I will load the pic of them in the tank.

I have fed blood worms and it seems to have helped some, they have only been in the tank for about 5 days, but I just want to start right. They were collected in probably less than 3 feet of water, should I have more intense lighting than a normal flourescent tube. I have many lighting options available.

Thanks again,
Rick

Do you have plants? Bluegill love to hide around in vegetation and in tangles of branches and driftwood. Those are definately bluegill. On the one up front you can even see the tell-tale black spot on the dorsal fin. Just be sure they have plenty of cover. They'll color back up soon.