Pygmy Sunfish

Pygmy Sunfish is a fascinating fish species to be kept in a single species tank. Special attention is required by it as it can be eaten or beleaguered by other fish. It likes to spend most of its time close to the bottom. As it sits motionless, you can mistake it for dead leaves or sticks. On the whole it is a great fish to be kept in your aquarium. It belongs to Elassomatidae family. The following account cites more about it.

Water preferences: Medium-hard to hard, alkaline water. Its temperature requirement ranges from 8-10 degree C during winters but considerably higher e.g.18-23 degree C in summers.

Diet

Pygmy Sunfish is a carnivore. It likes to have all types of live foods that include cyclops, brine shrimp, tubifex and daphnia. Flakes and algae are also relished by them.

Breeding

As spawning approaches fins of males blacken but females are colorless. If temperatures are kept from 12 to 25 degree C, then breeding is possible in a species tank. Mating takes place among the plants. 40-50 eggs are laid by the female on or beneath thick vegetation and the male guards the area of nest until the fry hatch and scatter. Fry are not harmed by parents. Fry is fed on fine micro food.

Description

E. evergladei males are quite aggressive, despite their small size. Dense clumps of vegetation should be provided for this fish which should be kept in a species tank. Other Pigmy Sunfishes include: Black-banded Sunfish – Enneacanthus (Mesogonistius) chaetodon Diamond or Banded Sunfish -E. obess. Blue-spotted Sunfish -E. gloriosus

Physical Characteristics

This Pygmy Sunfish is the only one among the pygmy sunfishes to have scales on the top of the head but they can’t be seen without a microscope. There are no marks on the body of a female and it has a reddish-brown body. fins of male are black which may or may not have brown spots. its body is brown or dark green, black, spotted or has a few indefinite dark bars. Black marks don’t appear on its shoulder. Brassy to blue-green shimmering scales are scattered over the body. at the caudal fin’s root two distinct light spots occur.

Tank Set Up

In the tank of Pygmy Sunfish put many rocks to border territories and leave ample open space for swimming. It is good to keep this fish in a species tank. There should be 40 liters of water in its tank. The tank’s bottom should have fine sand and it should be heavily planted with cold water plants. it is an advantage to have algae in it. Required pH is 7-7.5.

Social Behavior

It is a non-aggressive fish and at times it turns into really docile fish. It is a territorial fish and should be kept in combination with small cold water fishes.

The pygmy sunfishes don’t make game fishes as they are too small for that but they are fashionable as aquarium fish because of the glistening colors of males and intriguing breeding behaviors. Pygmy Sunfish belong to the group of Cichlids. They adapt nicely to small aquarium and are simple to care for. They call for small live worms, insects, or crustaceans as food. Its life span is 5-8 years. Most individuals do not eat prepared fish foods.