Re: NANFA-L-- precocious Green Sunfish

Michael Lucas (psalm119.111-in-gmail.com)
Sun, 27 Nov 2005 15:12:53 -0500

George,
Years ago I caught some young 3/4 in. green sunfish near Geneseo NY. They
were in a 10 or 15 gallon tank with other sunfish yet still under a year old
at about 2 inches a pr spawned in a back corner and actually guarded the
eggs together as I recall but were eventually overpowered by the others
before the fry were freeswimming. They are an awesome fish I think someday
when I have 20 or so large tanks I 'd like to dedicate one to a big Green.
Mike Lucas

On 11/27/05, Crail, Todd <tcrail-in-utnet.utoledo.edu> wrote:
>
> Hi George,
>
> One of the adaptations of the sunfishes, and particularly graphic in the
> genus
> Lepomis, is to be able to produce small yet fertile clutches in stunted
> populations (for whatever biotic or abiotic reason),-in-small body sizes.
> This
> is especially true in the green sunfish, which is a species that has a
> strong
> presence in headwater communities. While this is a small male who's just
> sewing his oats, and nothing serious will come of it... In the wild, in
> many
> situations, it would not be strange for a fish that size to nest and
> attract
> fertile females.
>
> That or he's just a real show off. ;)
>
> I was suspicious that the "other fish" was another species, and his
> behavior
> is that of newly introduced orangespots, I think you've nailed it. For
> sunfish, they're the shy guys. Very rewarding to keep though because you
> can
> stuff 'em in with all sorts of wimpy minnows and darters and they behave
> so
> danged well... Unlike those greens which you'll swear off as Satan's
> spawn,
> even in a tank with only members of their own genus! :)
>
> I trust the "keeper worship" has begun as well? The part where they're
> going
> "Oh oh! ME! Oh Oh! Food? Oh Oh! ME ME! Food? Yes? Oh Oh! Oh Oh Please!"
>
> Todd
> The Muddy Maumee Madness, Toledo, OH
> It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
> http://www.farmertodd.com
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/ visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are
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