Sunfish in the Aquarium: Keeping Pumpkinseeds, Bluegills & their Relatives

[findi]

I love bichars. They are the senegalas. I also have a south american lungfish and all of these species are just awesome! I was looking into sirens before I got the bichars. This little sunfish is the only fish that hasnt been destroyed in this tank but I am going to keep an eye out because im not sure which will become the dominant one. I will try to get a good picture of it. Thank you.

Ha! In my experience, those of us interested in bichirs are also drawn to lungfish, various eels, amphiumas, sirens, catfish. I got to see Australian lungfish in Japan, not sure if they are in any public aquariums here - amazing; and they were eating plantains, of all things! Photo would be great, ID of youngsters very difficult; but I can forward to a friend who is pretty good at it, I have a source for sirens and amphiuma, let me know if you decide. A happy and healthy season and new year, Frank

 

[mmfh]

Plantains? Interesting. I know my lungfish loves algae wafers. But I learned through trial and error that if they dont get enough protein their little legs start to get bent. My lungfish is currently 13.5 years old and I would love to get another one but they are hard to find in the hobby. I will try to get pictures lol, we will see how good my skills are at taking aquarium pics. Happy holidays!

 

[findi]

Plantains? Interesting. I know my lungfish loves algae wafers. But I learned through trial and error that if they dont get enough protein their little legs start to get bent. My lungfish is currently 13.5 years old and I would love to get another one but they are hard to find in the hobby. I will try to get pictures lol, we will see how good my skills are at taking aquarium pics. Happy holidays!

Interesting note on the protein, thanks; those I've kept at home and in zoos have mainly been on animal based diets, so that didn't come up, but a private keeper I know once asked about protein levels; I'll pass along your observation. Enjoy, best, Frank

 

[Galapoheros]

I've never heard of bichars, they look really interesting. I do have a siren, I think it's about 8 years old now, found it when it was about 5-6 inches. Now I'm thinking of doing the Tx cichlid thing again, maybe later.

 

[findi]

I've never heard of bichars, they look really interesting. I do have a siren, I think it's about 8 years old now, found it when it was about 5-6 inches. Now I'm thinking of doing the Tx cichlid thing again, maybe later.

Several species of bichir appear in the trade these days...almost "straddle the line" between amphibs and fish, in some ways! the Lesser Siren occurs in Texas...what is it's length now? Best, Frank

 

[Galapoheros]

It's topped out at around 14 inches I guess. I caught my first one in 1974 when I was 11, I was with two of my friends. We always played in a creek that ran through a golf course when it flooded. I carried it all the way home while it was wiggling through my hands. My mother was mad at me because I had been gone so long. I tried to counteract by saying, "Hey look what I found!" haha, I'll never forget that.

 

[catfishrod69]

I used to keep a muddpuppy. One of my favorites. Always thought it would be neat to keep a siren, hellbender, or one of those giant japanese salamanders.

 

[findi]

It's topped out at around 14 inches I guess. I caught my first one in 1974 when I was 11, I was with two of my friends. We always played in a creek that ran through a golf course when it flooded. I carried it all the way home while it was wiggling through my hands. My mother was mad at me because I had been gone so long. I tried to counteract by saying, "Hey look what I found!" haha, I'll never forget that.

Ha! Thanks for the memory; I did exactly the same, at that age in the mid-60's; my Mom couldn't help but go along, as I was so sincere! A happy and healthy season and new year, Frank

---------- Post added 12-24-2012 at 03:09 PM ----------

I used to keep a muddpuppy. One of my favorites. Always thought it would be neat to keep a siren, hellbender, or one of those giant japanese salamanders.

All very interesting, amphiumas as well; I was able to see Japanese giants at several aquariums in Japan a few years back; had some connections through the zoo, and a friend there to translate, so I was very lucky; even after reading about them for decades, I was shocked by their size and appearance. I'm in touch with a guy who supplies amphiumas and 3 species of siren, usually from March or so on, let me know if you ever need a contact, Best, Frank

 

[mmfh]

 

[catfishrod69]

Yeah i dont know lot about them. I was fishing a old strip pit pond one day and happened to catch one. I thought it was pretty wierd that it looked like a bluegill but had a larger mouth. I looked into it and discovered warmouth. Thats the only one i ever caught there. Ill try and dig up a pic of it.

Warmouths have been reported here in NY from time to time (transplants) but I've not found any; a friend seines them in Louisiana, has other sunfish and plans to try an adult pair in the spring; I'll post updates. Best. Frank

---------- Post added 12-28-2012 at 09:30 PM ----------

Thats pretty cool. Would be neat to see them in person. The mudpuppy was the closest i came to a amphiumas that large. First one i caught me and my friend were catfishing, and i caught what i thought was a small bullhead. I pulled it up and with what little lighting we had, we were looking at it. And then we realized, holy crap it had legs lol. It got away from me, but the very next one i caught i kept for a long time. Would be pretty intimidating to have one of those large japanese ones in your presence.

All very interesting, amphiumas as well; I was able to see Japanese giants at several aquariums in Japan a few years back; had some connections through the zoo, and a friend there to translate, so I was very lucky; even after reading about them for decades, I was shocked by their size and appearance. I'm in touch with a guy who supplies amphiumas and 3 species of siren, usually from March or so on, let me know if you ever need a contact, Best, Frank

 

[findi]

Yeah i dont know lot about them. I was fishing a old strip pit pond one day and happened to catch one. I thought it was pretty wierd that it looked like a bluegill but had a larger mouth. I looked into it and discovered warmouth. Thats the only one i ever caught there. Ill try and dig up a pic of it.

---------- Post added 12-28-2012 at 09:30 PM ----------

Thats pretty cool. Would be neat to see them in person. The mudpuppy was the closest i came to a amphiumas that large. First one i caught me and my friend were catfishing, and i caught what i thought was a small bullhead. I pulled it up and with what little lighting we had, we were looking at it. And then we realized, holy crap it had legs lol. It got away from me, but the very next one i caught i kept for a long time. Would be pretty intimidating to have one of those large japanese ones in your presence.

Interesting...thanks; I had always heard mudpuppies were sometimes caught on fishing lines (and the first drawing I ever saw of one, in Zim's Golden Guide, shows one on a line) but I've never run across anyone who actually hooked one...what state were you in?

Best, Frank

 

[catfishrod69]

Yeah ive only hooked two, which are the only two ive ever seen haha. I live in ohio. When i was catching them it was in a slow moving creek thats about 15-20 feet wide, deepest point being over 6', yet mostly around 1-3'. This creek also floods yearly every fall.

 

[Galapoheros]

Zim's Golden Guide, haha, had the same book, too bad my mother threw it away at some point. It was the first place I saw a mud puppy too, I remember the pic with the fluffy red gills. I couldn't wait to find one but that's one I still have never found in the wild. I didn't live far enough in east tx to come across one in the few areas they have been reported.

 

[catfishrod69]

They are pretty awesome. Those gills are pretty neat to look at too. Mine would mostly just sit on the bottom with gills out, or sometimes swim around. I mostly fed him nightcrawlers. I would buy them from walmart, then keep them in the fridge. I always rinsed them off before feeding to help keep the water clean. Would be neat to do another setup, but bigger with live plants and a more realistic bottom other than just rocks.

Zim's Golden Guide, haha, had the same book, too bad my mother threw it away at some point. It was the first place I saw a mud puppy too, I remember the pic with the fluffy red gills. I couldn't wait to find one but that's one I still have never found in the wild. I didn't live far enough in east tx to come across one in the few areas they have been reported.

 

[findi]

Yeah ive only hooked two, which are the only two ive ever seen haha. I live in ohio. When i was catching them it was in a slow moving creek thats about 15-20 feet wide, deepest point being over 6', yet mostly around 1-3'. This creek also floods yearly every fall.

Thanks for that info and sorry for the delay...I was getting an "Attack Site" warning when I tried to respond. Good to know..the different species and subspecies occupy a wide range of habitats, and it is interesting to hear first hand observations, as they are hard to find (other than by skilled anglers, I see!) here in NY they are limited to deep rivers, while in the SE USA some inhabit sluggish streams; those in slow moving water have noticeably larger gills than those living in more oxygenated waters. Reported to be active under ice...in case you get out there soon. Best, Frank

---------- Post added 12-30-2012 at 10:09 PM ----------

Zim's Golden Guide, haha, had the same book, too bad my mother threw it away at some point. It was the first place I saw a mud puppy too, I remember the pic with the fluffy red gills. I couldn't wait to find one but that's one I still have never found in the wild. I didn't live far enough in east tx to come across one in the few areas they have been reported.

I still have my whole series, plus new ones (drawings not good at all) and my 5 year old nephew loves them. Amazon usually has some, inexpensive. Rep/Amphibs was put out with a new cover, but is the same inside. The Texas blind salamander drawing really grabbed me...I've yet to see one. Best, Frank

---------- Post added 12-30-2012 at 10:11 PM ----------

They are pretty awesome. Those gills are pretty neat to look at too. Mine would mostly just sit on the bottom with gills out, or sometimes swim around. I mostly fed him nightcrawlers. I would buy them from walmart, then keep them in the fridge. I always rinsed them off before feeding to help keep the water clean. Would be neat to do another setup, but bigger with live plants and a more realistic bottom other than just rocks.

They do very well if water quality is watched...some 20+ year old records; breeding not common but worth trying, males guard eggs - ahh!, now you have me thinking......! Best, Frank

 

[Galapoheros]

---------- Post added 12-30-2012 at 10:09 PM ----------

[/COLOR]

I still have my whole series, plus new ones (drawings not good at all) and my 5 year old nephew loves them. Amazon usually has some, inexpensive. Rep/Amphibs was put out with a new cover, but is the same inside. The Texas blind salamander drawing really grabbed me...I've yet to see one. Best, Frank

---------- Post added 12-30-2012 at 10:11 PM ----------

I remember the drawing of the Tx blind salamander too, really interesting and I thought because of the drawing that they were bigger than they really are. I made it to a cave they are in while in San Marcos in the early 80's(Ezell's) but it was fenced off even back then of course. I knew people that went in there anyway with no permission, but I couldn't get myself to do it.

 

[catfishrod69]

Thats completely understandable, and your very welcome. Now i want to catch a couple and setup my 75 gallon for them lol. I dont know how easy it would be to catch them as ive only caught 2 in over 20 years of fishing. But there are a ton of local catfisherman around here, so im sure i could spread the word that i would like a couple. I cant remember if i caught them on chicken liver, or nightcrawlers. Im betting the nightcrawlers. I think hooking the worm where it would have a long tail sticking off the hook, and then casting and reeling slowly would catch the little puppies attention. 20+ years would be very awesome. I wonder if telling the different sexes apart would be easy like with lizards. I never looked closely enough at mine to see if it had anything that might indicate male or female.

Thanks for that info and sorry for the delay...I was getting an "Attack Site" warning when I tried to respond. Good to know..the different species and subspecies occupy a wide range of habitats, and it is interesting to hear first hand observations, as they are hard to find (other than by skilled anglers, I see!) here in NY they are limited to deep rivers, while in the SE USA some inhabit sluggish streams; those in slow moving water have noticeably larger gills than those living in more oxygenated waters. Reported to be active under ice...in case you get out there soon. Best, FrankThey do very well if water quality is watched...some 20+ year old records; breeding not common but worth trying, males guard eggs - ahh!, now you have me thinking......! Best, Frank