Hi. A few months ago I had bought a few new fish, and within a week everything was dead. Pout. We just turned the light off and ran the tank empty for a bit... very disheartened, becuase one of our weather loaches we had for over 4 years and we were just sad. Well, we took our 3 year old fishing and he caught several small blue gills (about 3.5 inches or so). Our tank is a 37 gallon and we put 4 blue gill and a pumpkin seed in our tank. I tried searching the web, but could never find a good site with infor about keeping them in the aquarium. With trial and error I have learnded what they like to eat. I do not have the heater on. They seem quite happy and are very entertaining, except the pumpkin seed can be a bully at times. Maybe next spring he will go back to the pond, or maybe we need a bigger tank? Anywho.... if anyone can tell me a good book or website to get some info on bluegills in the aquarium I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Sheila
Looking for info on blue gills.
- Thread starter Sheila1978
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Advertisement: I sell "North American Native Fishes for the Home Aquarium" for $35, shipped (out of print). (PM if you want a copy. /End advertisement.) I highly recommend that book, but the NANFA forums might also be a great place to go.
As for the tank--it will be a little cramped soon...you're looking at five moderate to large fishes...too much for a 37. And releasing to the wild is probably not a good option at this point as that tank has had other fishes in it, so they could introduce something lovely to the environment...or they could not be ready for everything out there any more.
As for the tank--it will be a little cramped soon...you're looking at five moderate to large fishes...too much for a 37. And releasing to the wild is probably not a good option at this point as that tank has had other fishes in it, so they could introduce something lovely to the environment...or they could not be ready for everything out there any more.
Try http://forum.nanfa.org; you should be able to find plenty of info on keeping bluegill and pumpkinseed.
I can tell you right now that your 37 will only be large enough for one of those fish when he is an adult- and that won't be very long, they are fast growers. You mentioned a pond. If this pond is isolated, not connected to a stream or river, you can return the extra fish to their home. Or you can invest in a bigger tank- I'd say a 90 or 100 gallon would be the minimum for those 5 fish.
One thing that will help with aggression is to divide the tank into 'rooms' with plants, driftwood, or other decorations; this way each fish can pick a territory, and stay out of one another's sight when they want to.
Sunfish can be fascinating pets, but you picked some of the biggest sunfish species to go in your tank. If you only keep one, I would go with the pumpkinseed- they are a bit smaller and keep their colors better as adults.
I can tell you right now that your 37 will only be large enough for one of those fish when he is an adult- and that won't be very long, they are fast growers. You mentioned a pond. If this pond is isolated, not connected to a stream or river, you can return the extra fish to their home. Or you can invest in a bigger tank- I'd say a 90 or 100 gallon would be the minimum for those 5 fish.
One thing that will help with aggression is to divide the tank into 'rooms' with plants, driftwood, or other decorations; this way each fish can pick a territory, and stay out of one another's sight when they want to.
Sunfish can be fascinating pets, but you picked some of the biggest sunfish species to go in your tank. If you only keep one, I would go with the pumpkinseed- they are a bit smaller and keep their colors better as adults.
:iagree: I have a bluegill with a few greens and longear sunfish. My bluegill is growing like a weed. I have 7 sunfish in a 55g and I am giving away two of them and I am upgrading the blue gill and one green to a 65g. They have such great personalities, I wanted a pumpkin seed but unfortunately the one I caught died.
My bf went on the nanfa website and learned alot about keeping these and other native fish. It is a great hobby to get into, we also have native plants and rocks in our tank as well. We made ours look like the river we got the fish from.
My bf went on the nanfa website and learned alot about keeping these and other native fish. It is a great hobby to get into, we also have native plants and rocks in our tank as well. We made ours look like the river we got the fish from.
Thank you all for the replies. The pond is a small local man-made pond that has no water coming in or out, but I think it is too cold now to put any on them back in. (I am in Pa). Maybe in the spring, but IDK. We often talk about a larger tank, but our house is too small for now. Our good friend has a 75 gallon, and that is what we want. I know I shoulda known better, but it was spur of the moment bringing them home, our 3 year old was soooo excited. The fish all seem to have their "spot" in the tank, there is a lot of plants and a large castle to hide in. They love to eat. I really enjoy them. I will check out that site, Thanks again.