How to raise sunfish
Sunfish is a colorful and easy-to-keep ornamental fish that has been favored by more and more aquarium enthusiasts in recent years. This article will introduce in detail how to raise sunfish, including water quality requirements, feed selection, breeding techniques, etc., to help you raise sunfish easily.
1. Basic introduction to sunfish
Sunfish (scientific name: Lepomis gibbosus) is native to North America and is a freshwater fish. It is small in size and brightly colored, especially the male sunfish, which will show more brilliant colors during the breeding season. Sunfish have a gentle personality and are suitable for keeping with other small fish.
2. Feeding environment requirements
| Project | request |
|---|---|
| water temperature | 20-28℃ (optimum temperature 24-26℃) |
| pH value | 6.5-7.5 |
| Hardness | 5-15dGH |
| Fish tank size | Recommended minimum 60cm (suitable for 3-5 pieces) |
| Filtration system | Needs good filtration and 1/3 water change weekly |
3. Feed selection and feeding
Sunfish are omnivorous fish and feed mainly on insect larvae, small crustaceans and aquatic plants in the wild. In captivity, a variety of foods can be provided:
| Feed type | Feeding advice |
|---|---|
| artificial pellet feed | Choose special feed for small fish, 2-3 times a day |
| Frozen bloodworms | 2-3 times a week as a protein supplement |
| water fleas | Available live or frozen, suitable for juvenile fish |
| vegetables | Occasionally feed cooked spinach or cucumber slices |
4. Breeding skills
Sunfish breed relatively easily and usually begin breeding behavior in spring when water temperatures rise. Here are the key points for breeding:
| breeding conditions | Specific requirements |
|---|---|
| breeding temperature | 26-28℃ |
| spawning site | Provide flat rocks or propagation boards |
| Male to female ratio | It is recommended to mate 1 male with 2-3 females |
| hatching time | About 3-5 days (depending on water temperature) |
5. Prevention and treatment of common diseases
Although sunfish have strong disease resistance, they still need to pay attention to the following common diseases:
| Disease name | Symptoms | Prevention and control methods |
|---|---|---|
| white spot disease | White spots on body surface, rubbing against body | Raise the temperature to 30°C and add special drugs |
| fin rot | Fin ulcers and whitening | Improve water quality, use antibiotics |
| Enteritis | Abdominal swelling and abnormal bowel movements | Stop eating for 2-3 days and feed with medicinal bait |
6. Mixed culture suggestions
Sunfish has a gentle temperament and is suitable for keeping with the following fish:
| Suitable for mixed fish culture | Things to note |
|---|---|
| Guppy | Avoid excessive body size differences |
| Lampfish | Keep enough room to move around |
| small carp | Note that water quality requirements are similar |
| rat fish | Low-level activities, no direct competition |
7. Key points of daily management
1. Regularly detect water quality parameters to maintain stability
2. Change 1/3 of the water every week and use treated water
3. Observe fish behavior and appetite, and detect abnormalities in time
4. Maintain appropriate lighting, 8-10 hours a day
5. Avoid overfeeding to prevent deterioration of water quality
8. Things to note when purchasing sunfish
1. Select individuals with bright and active body colors
2. Check the fish body for damage or white spots
3. Observe whether the fish is breathing normally
4. Ask about the feeding environment and feed conditions
5. New fish need to be treated with water before entering the tank.
Through the above detailed breeding guide, I believe you have mastered the key points of sunfish breeding. As long as a suitable environment and scientific feeding and management are provided, sunfish will become a beautiful scenery in your aquarium.
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