>
 Home
 What's New
 About
 Preface
 Introduction
 Fish Anatomy
 Water Chemistry
 The Aquarium
 Plant Care
 Plant Species
 Food
 Disease
 Biotope Aquaria
   Ecosystems
   Country Database
 Fish Species
   Catfish
   Characins
   Cichlids
   Cyprinds
   Killifish
   Labyrinth Fish
   Livebearers
   Loaches
   Others
   Perches
   Rainbowfish
 Non-fish Species
 Breeding Fish
 Aquarium Photos
 Languages
   Chinese
   Finnish
   Japanese
 Bibliography
 Links
 Resources
 Rainforests
 Books
 Mongabay Sites
   Kids site
   Travel Tips
 News
 Contact




PERCHES


CENTRARCHIDAE FAMILY
The Centrarchidae or Sunfish family inhabits cold to temperate waters in the United States.

Pumpkinseed[Pictures]
Lepomis gibbosus
SYN: Eupomotis aureus, E. gibbosus, Perca gibbosa, Pomotis gibbosus, P. vulgaris, Sparus aureus
PD:An oval-shaped with with a laterally compressed body. The caudal penuncle is long and the dorsal fin is made up of 10-12 spiny rays. The color varies depending on the age of the fish. Younger fish have brown base coloration with overlaying pearly-green iridescence markings. The body is marked with numerous orange to red spots. The gill cover is marked with a characteristic rear flap which is black with a red end. The lower parts are orange while the fins are yellow to brown. The colors darken with age.
SIZE: To 9” (23 cm)
SS: Enneacanthus species.
HAB: North America; Great Lakes to Texas and east.
S: bottom, middle
TANK: A tank measuring 36” (91 cm) with a volume from 35-45 gallons (132-170 L) is sufficient for young fish. Adult fish require a tank measuring at least 48” (122 cm) with a capacity from 50-70 gallons (190-266 L). Plant the tank along the edges and back and use a fine gravel substrate. Leave open swimming areas and use good aeration.
WATER: pH 6.9-7.6 (7.1), 6-15 dH (8), 43-72°F (6-22°C)
SB: A peaceful species outside of spawning times when it become territorial. A patriarchal family is formed.
SC: Other sunfish, minnows, Misgurnus
FOOD: Live; worms, insects, insect larvae, brine shrimp, small fish; pellets; tablets; flakes
SEX: Males are generally more colorful, while females have fuller bellies. These differences are not foolproof.
B: Use water with a temperature from 64-68°F (18-20°C). A large spawning pit is constructed by the male using his tail. Courtship involves the pair meeting belly to belly in the spawning pit. Up to 1000 eggs are laid which are aggressively defended by the male. Remove the female. The male fans the eggs until they hatch 4-6 days later. The fry are fanned into plants where they hang for 3-4 days before becoming free-swimming. Start feeding with Artemia nauplii.
BP: 6. Easiest to breed when the water temperature varies according to the season. For example, in the winter the water should be considerably cooler than in the summer.
R: This species has been introduced into many parts of Europe. The Pumpkinseed can be kept in an outdoor pond, although the water temperature should not drop below 43°F (6°C).
DC: 4. This peaceful, cold water species is a fine addition to some outdoor ponds.


Species Index | Fish Home | Rainforests | Help keep mongabay running!




Recent news

Census of marine life opens with 122,000 species
(7/1/2008) Discovering a new species can be the highlight of a biologist's career. Yet once a species enters the formal literature, complications may develop. The systen has been especially problematic because for centuries biologists have lacked the tools to construct a full and flexible list of the world's innumerable species. Using the Internet and hundreds of scientists around the world, the Census of Marine Life is attempting to take on this monumental task.

Large shark populations fall 97% in the Mediterranean
(6/12/2008) Populations of some shark species in the Mediterranean have plunged by more than 97 percent over the past 200 years, report researchers writing in the journal Conservation Biology. Several species are at risk of extinction.

Dried-up Colorado takes toll on giant Mexican fish
(6/8/2008) The Colorado River vanishes before it reaches the Sea of Cortez in all but the wettest years. Companies in California and the southwestern U.S. have diverted its once-vibrant flow to quench their thirst for water and power. Now, a new study in the April 2008 issue of the journal Biological Conservation reports that the dwindling of this major artery has changed the way some marine fish in the Gulf of California grow and develop.

Diversity in streams may brace Chinook salmon for climate change
(6/3/2008) Chinook salmon face a one-two punch. They have disappeared from several rivers in the western U.S. largely because of human interventions and some populations are threatened or endangered. Numbers of Chinook in California's Central Valley have dwindled by 88 percent in the past five years, a loss that closed fisheries for 2008 and may cost California's economy $167 million, according to the state Department of Fish and Game. On top of all this looms a second impact: These salmon will be in hotter water still because of climate change.

Greenpeace ship attacked by Turkish tuna fishermen during protest
(5/30/2008) Members of a Turkish tuna fishing boat attacked the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise while the ship was engaged in a protest against overfishing. The incident occurred Friday in the Cypriot Channel and was reported to the Turkish Iskenderun Gulf Port Authorities.


what's new | tropical fish home | rainforests | news | search | about | contact



Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2006

The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me.