Jelly Bean Tetra - Ladigesia roloffi - Federation of British Aquatic ...

Sunfishes are popular with anglers as well as with aquarium owners.
These fish range in size from 40-250mm.
The smallest of the Sunfishes,
Pygmy Sunfish, Elassoma
evergladei, at 40mm, is best
suited to a species tank due to its
diminutive size. The male darkens
intensively when breeding. These
fish are said not to eat their own
eggs during spawning.
The Black-banded Sunfish,
Enneacanthus chaetodon, is a
small, deep-bodied fish which
again has excellent colouration
when in breeding condition.
The male has four black bands
crossing the bodily vertically; the
first rays of the dorsal and pelvic
fins of the male are bright orange.
The much larger Pumpkinseed,
Lepomis gibbosus, could be
kept in the pond during summer
months. Sunfishes build nests
on the substrate in which eggs
are deposited.
There is an ear-like extension to
the rear of the gill cover which
may appear more reddish in the
male fish but otherwise sex
differentiation can be difficult.
Note: Due to legislation, licences are necessary to stock and/or keep
certain (if not all) of the native American Fishes.
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