Sunfish has derived its name from the sun because just like the sun a lot of these fish are round and brightly colored. Sunfish make up a family of about thirty fish of freshwater. Its expected life span is that of 8-10 years. Its binomial name is Lepomis Gibbosus. Commonly it is also known as yellow sunfish, pumpkinseed, punky, bream or common sunfish. The similar species are Warmouth and Redbreast sunfish. Sunfish are extensively distributed and prefer shallow, weedy lakes and rivers. The Sunfish can be found in the Northern United States in the Northern Appalachians and Mississippi River Basin.

Habitat of Sunfish

The Sunfish loves to inhabit ponds, lakes and streams that are fed by springs and contain cold and clear water. It desires springs and tiny, gravelly, clear and feeder creeks of lakes and reservoirs.

Physical Description of Sunfish

This freshwater fish is deep-bodied and slab-sided. Its mouth is small. The breast and belly of this fish are orange to yellow having lighter color sides in a variety of bright colors. They exhibit effervescent colors with golden sides crossed with crimped blue-green lines, flecks of red, olive or orange spots on the head. The gill flap of the Sunfish is black colored but on the border it has an orange-red spot. These colors are more prominent in breeding males. On an average, a Sunfish is 5 to 7 inches long and its weight is one pound or less.

Diet of Sunfish

The Sunfish readily eats rotifers and plankton in minor specimens. Small insects, freshwater shrimps, baby mussels, worms, nymphs, small snails, minnow fry and scuds are eaten by larger ones.

Breeding Sunfish

The Sunfish attains sexual maturity when it is two years of age. Spawning occurs when the water temperature is 20 degree C. The male builds nest by hollowing out a depression in the sand then it attracts the female by showing its vibrant colors. If the female gets attracted, an elaborated mating takes places before spawning. Then the female lays her eggs in the nest built by the male. Females can produce 2000-3000 eggs at a time. After the eggs are fertilized, the male guards the nest and also the newly hatched young. The eggs take about three days to hatch. The fry are guarded for about eleven days. When the fry leave, the male may clean the nest and prepare for another spawning.

Sunfish Aquarium

Sunfish require water temperature of 39–72 degree F or 4–22 degree C. Provide some weed cover in their tank. Try to imitate their natural habitat in their aquarium. During the day, these fish are active and at night they rest near the bottom.

Social Behavior of Sunfish

The Sunfish is contentious and very tough as compared to many species of Cichlids in behavior. The female and male largest in size get the best morsels of food and best area. It can bully larger tank mates. Males are fond of displaying and fighting with one another, especially while breeding.

Sunfish is very colorful and flamboyant. They are idyllically suited for pond environments. They support the great sport on light fishing tackle, particularly for children. It is very easy to catch them from the shore as they tend to remain in the shallows and feed there all day. They eat a wide variety of aquatic insects, snails and other smaller fish. Be careful of the name ‘Sunfish’ as it also refers to a group of ocean fish with giant heads. These ocean fish are in no way related to this freshwater sunfish.