Bluespotted sunfish questions

I've got a 55 gallon planted tropical community tank that I keep at 78 degrees. Fish-wise, it's got congo tetras, a pair of kribs, a GBR, cory catfish, a whiptail catfish, and a trio of wild-type sailfin mollies (1 male, 2 females). I also plan on getting a school of small tetras soon.

Would a single bluespotted sunfish do okay in this set-up? Would it try to eat my small tetras? Would it be too aggressive? I wouldn't get one unless I was absolutely sure it would work out.

I was also considering a banded sunfish instead of a bluespotted, especially since I could try to catch it myself. Would one of those work?

Edited by Runan, 16 April 2009 - 12:56 AM.

The bluespot should be okay temp wise, although they're kinda timid. Make sure to acclimate them and get them eating before you put any into your community tank, and be careful with some of the aggressive dwarf cichlids you have there... kribs in breeding dress tend to be very territorial.

I doubt it would eat your tetras, they have pretty small mouths and don't get that big. I'd honestly be more concerned with the cichlids beating them up rather than vice versa.

Banded should be fine as well, and probably better able to fend for themselves. They're not as timid as bluespots.

Thanks. I'm leaning towards banded ATM, and I think I'll be setting up my spare 5 gallon as a QT tank soon in the hopes of catching a young one.

As for the cichlids...the kribs bred shortly after I got them and haven't spawned again since, and it's been quite a while. The one time they did, they only defended about 1/4 of the tank and were surprisingly mellow about the whole affair, only chasing away fish that came too close to the fry. They've been extremely peaceful members of the tank and I'm hoping it stays that way. The ram also gets along exceedingly well with everyone. If things don't work out, though, I could always move the sunnie to my 20 gallon with the rainbow shiners.

If you have hiding places you will rarely see the bluespots. When you do see 'em, they'll be washed out and colorless.

I think that settles it, then--I'll go for banded. Bluespots are pretty, but I want a slightly bolder fish. Of course, I have to FIND a banded sunnie first...I guess I'll be going out this weekend. :)

If you have hiding places you will rarely see the bluespots. When you do see 'em, they'll be washed out and colorless.

Mike, I've heard this a lot about bluespots, but then I've seen some really stunning pictures of them. Whats the deal? Do they only get colorful when they spawn?

Mike, I've heard this a lot about bluespots, but then I've seen some really stunning pictures of them. Whats the deal? Do they only get colorful when they spawn?

The 4 bluespots I have are skittish, but not that timid. Then again, they're the only fish in their 10-gallon tank. They REALLY don't like it when the light comes on, they freak out and bounce off the walls. Otherwise, they're pretty calm fish with a definite interest in food. They've taken to prepared food better than my blackbanded, which are more aggressive with frozen food than the bluespots, but exhibit no interest in pellets or flakes whatsoever.

And yeah, my bluespots are olive brown, and one male is showing his spots. They're pretty, but only evident when the light hits him just right. He's not dark colored. Mine haven't spawned yet, so I can't speak for the stunning color in the photos, but from what everyone's telling me, they only look like that in breeding dress.

Still and all, I really like them, although most folks will prefer the blackbanded if they can get them. I have no obesus yet, although they're a target fish for me.

The 4 bluespots I have are skittish, but not that timid. Then again, they're the only fish in their 10-gallon tank. They REALLY don't like it when the light comes on, they freak out and bounce off the walls. Otherwise, they're pretty calm fish with a definite interest in food. They've taken to prepared food better than my blackbanded, which are more aggressive with frozen food than the bluespots, but exhibit no interest in pellets or flakes whatsoever.

And yeah, my bluespots are olive brown, and one male is showing his spots. They're pretty, but only evident when the light hits him just right. He's not dark colored. Mine haven't spawned yet, so I can't speak for the stunning color in the photos, but from what everyone's telling me, they only look like that in breeding dress.

Still and all, I really like them, although most folks will prefer the blackbanded if they can get them. I have no obesus yet, although they're a target fish for me.

I'm probably going to start a similar set up this summer with my spare ten-gallon, but I'll probably go with banded sunfish that I can more conveniently collect where I live. It's always good to hear from people with first hand experience with these little sunfish though!

I have 4 blue spotted in my 90G that I got from Brian Zimmerman, they were about 1/2 inch when I recieved them and are not timid at all, my tank is well planted and the stay out in the open quite a bit and they come to the glass whenever I am there. I am not sure if the timidness is prevaliant in older ones but mine are not shy/timid or reclusive.

My congo tetras can be extremely "rambunctious", so even slightly skittish fish probably wouldn't work. Which is funny, because congo tetras are supposed to be "shy" too...ha, yeah right. Hopefully a young banded sunfish or two will adapt to them better.

Where would be the best place to find juvenile bandeds?

I have 4 blue spotted in my 90G that I got from Brian Zimmerman, they were about 1/2 inch when I recieved them and are not timid at all, my tank is well planted and the stay out in the open quite a bit and they come to the glass whenever I am there. I am not sure if the timidness is prevaliant in older ones but mine are not shy/timid or reclusive.

The difference here is likely that yours are captive-bred, and have grown up in your tank, where mine are wild-caught.

Mine are more skittish than my blackbandeds, as I've mentioned, but interestingly, they are much more responsive to prepared food than the blackbandeds. Once they realize it's feeding time, they strike pellets with a lot of enthusiasm.

A lot of the color you see on pictures of bluespotted sunfish has to do with the lighting. They tend to look rather dull in bright lights. When they can hide in the shadows the males will darken up and then if you take a photo of them right then with a flash the spots really show up. Large males can show more color more often but in general seeing the brilliant colors seen in some photo's is something seen on adult males in just the right lighting conditions.

My captive raised bluespotted sunfish do seem to be less skittish and more willing to come out in the open than wild caught fish I have had. I think this is probably true with just about any skitish species of fish.

As far as feeding Bandeds are by far the least picky, and bluespotteds are not too far behind. Both of them will take cichlid pellets of the apropriate size after they get used to you being the source of food. Blackbandeds on the other hand I have never been able to get them onto prepared foods. I have not had much trouble getting them to feed on frozen foods such as blood worms, glassworms, or mysis. The black bandeds don't seem to hide much at all, they seem to like to sit up above plants rather than in them. Bandeds are rather bold and behave much like Lepomis sp. and the bluespotteds, even the captive ones are still shier than captive bandeds or black bandeds.