A Fish To Highly Consider!

[juhason]

Not many people think about it, but there are MANY beautiful and interesting fish that rival even the discus in beauty and the cichlids in personality, right in their backyards!! I would just like to show everyone the beautiful sunfish and darter species of North America! I'm obsessed! (Just be sure to make sure you can legally keep them if you decide to).
Sunfish: 
Orangespotted

Pumpkinseed

Missouri/Central Longear

Dollar

Darters:
Rainbow

Greenside

Shiners/Minnows:
Rainbow(yes they really are that color...and some are blue/purple)

Southern Redbelly Dace

Greenfin

 
And there are MANY MANY more species!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

 

[attibones]

How big do these guys get? I know people who fish and eat sunfish, so they've got to be a fairly decent size. They are beautiful though.

 

[sawickib]

I like the pumpkin seed any info on those? Cost, care, size?

 

[star4]

They are stunning.

 

[juhason]

How big do these guys get? I know people who fish and eat sunfish, so they've got to be a fairly decent size. They are beautiful though.

It depends on the species. Bluegill and Redear are the two biggest and most commonly eaten(but also the ugliest in my opinion.) Pumpkinseed can reach 10" but average at about 6-8." The rest stay fairly small. Orangespotted maxes out at about 4-5". There are even dwarf and pygmy varieties that max out at 3" and one of them (Pygmy Everglade Sunfish) at about 1-1.5"
 

I like the pumpkin seed any info on those? Cost, care, size?

Sure thing! They can potentially reach 10" but rarely exceed 8" and usually average about 6" (They also take years to reach that size). If you want to order one online, I suggest zimmermansfish.com. He doesn't have them available at the moment but I bought mine from him in November and that's when he had the most varieties available. I bought it for $6 plus about $10 shipping. You can ask him about pricing if your buying more though. Their care is very similar to cichlids in terms of aggression and tank size (55 gallon or 40 gallon breeder minimum for a pumpkinseed). They will readily take most foods (especially frozen and live of course) and can be pellet trained if you get them at a young age. Sometimes even if they are older. If you have other fish that are pellet trained with them, they learn really fast. No native fish requires a heater, in fact, I don't recommend one at all. I wouldn't comfortable house one in anything warmer than 78 F for a long period of time. They even benefit from cooling periods in the winter months.
 

They are stunning.

Yes they are 

 

[sawickib]

Wow the brown darter in there looks like the fish i got in a feeder bag once, he died though tried to save him

 

[juhason]

Wow the brown darter in there looks like the fish i got in a feeder bag once, he died though tried to save him

I don't have any personal experience with darters (but hopefully will soon) but some have specific requirements. The rainbow one in particular highly prefers a tank with a swift current. There are a few beautiful varieties though that like calm, planted environments. You also have to watch out for diseases with any fish you take from the wild (which the ones mixed in with feeders are from the wild)

 

[juhason]

I decided to add more hehe... 

Pygmy Everglades Sunfish (smallest sunfish!!)

Black Banded Sunfish (used to be called "poor man's angelfish")

Bluespotted Sunfish (one of the most beautiful sights to see when they breed)

Northern Longear Sunfish

Redfin Shiner

Savannah Darter

Bleeding Shiner

Redlip Shiner

 

[Ninjouzata]

They're all gorgeous. Share as much as you want cause it is interesting. I did not know this sort of stuff was near us until someone on fb told me.
He said it may be illegal to collect though so I just put them in the back of my mind til I can get more info on that.
 
Thank you for sharing btw

 

[looking-glass]

this makes me very jealous - our native freshwater fish are nowhere near that pretty here in England - i wonder why they are not used in the aquarium trade ?
 
 
thanks for uploading though they are great  

 

[SouthernCross]

Good question, why aren't these guys available commercially?

 

[juhason]

They're all gorgeous. Share as much as you want cause it is interesting. I did not know this sort of stuff was near us until someone on fb told me.
He said it may be illegal to collect though so I just put them in the back of my mind til I can get more info on that.

Yes unfortunately some states make it illegal but usually its just certain species. I don't know if its wrong of me to be recommending another forum, but the NANFA forums are filled with information on native fish and I'm 100% someone there will be able to tell you whether owning or collecting natives is illegal in your state. Oh by the way, this only applies to gamefish. Any of the shiners or darters are fair game! 

 (Unless they are endangered or specifically mentioned in the VHS list, which if they are you likely won't ever come across one) 
 

this makes me very jealous - our native freshwater fish are nowhere near that pretty here in England - i wonder why they are not used in the aquarium trade ?
 

Good question, why aren't these guys available commercially?

 

In the U.S. the main reason is because some fish in some states are illegal to sell or own. It gets really tricky with the variations per state. In one state the fish may be endangered while in the next state its a problem. So most pet shops don't/can't deal with that. As for England, I don't know exactly why. I do know that the pumpkinseed has made its way into your waters!!! And that could potentially be a reason. I do know that in many parts of Asia, they are commercially bred and sold. Maybe one day they will be as popular as cichlids! I can only dream. 
 
Here are my two juvies: a green and pumpkinseed. Both are only about 2" big and no where near their full coloration. Pictures can do no justice. Even to the ones I posted up there, I can guarantee they are more surreal in person!

(The pumpkinseed was very difficult to snap a decent shot of, the greenie however loved to pose for the camera.)

 

[juhason]

Here are some more haha! I actually discovered some new ones while looking for you guys. 

 
Plains Killifish

Golden Topminnow

Bluefin Killifish

Redline Darter (breeding colors)

Bluenose Shiner (don't they kind of remind you of the rainbowfish from Australia?)

Florida Flagfish (Also breeding colors but they are still pretty normally)

 

[Ninjouzata]

The bluenose shiner definitely reminds me of them
 
I really like the redline darter.
 
I think you posted the same pic twice

 

[juhason]

I think you posted the same pic twice

 
 
Did I? Which one? 

Some of them might look the same but are just similarly shaped/ colored.