Animals
Bunnies
Bunnies II 
Cat-N-Around Cat Club
Cat-N-Around Cat Club 2007 Annual Show
Hawkeye Cat Club 2004
Hawkeye Cat Club 2005
Chinchillas
Degus
Ferrets
Ferrets by BOB
Gerbils
Ground Squirrels
Guinea Pig
Hamsters I
Hamsters II
Hamsters III
Hamsters IV
Hamsters V
Hedgehogs
Kittens
Kids & Kittens
Mice
Mice Pets II
Parasites
Rats I
Rats II
Rats III
Rats, Hairless
S-T Opossums
Siberian Chipmunks
Sugar Gliders
Sugar Gliders II
Water Bottles

Bugs
Crabby 500
Crab 04 Results
Centipedes
Cray/Lobsters
Crayfish II
Crayfish III
Cray, Yucatan
Fiddler Crabs
Shrimp, Algae
Shrimp, Aqua
Shrimp, Orange Bee
Shrimp, Red
Shrimp, Flower
Shrimp, Ghost
Shrimp, Rudolph
Hermit Crabs
Hermit Crabs II
Madagas Roach
Mantids
Mini-Clams
Mini-Crabs
Patriot Crabs
Giant Millipedes
Red Claw Crabs
Reiman Butterfly
Spider, Black Widow
Snail, Apple
Snail, Colombian
Snail, Land
Snail, Malaysian
Snail, Mystery
Snail, Trapdoor 
Scorpions
Tarantulas
Tarantulas II
Tarantula Night 2006
TarantulaWeen VII
TarantulaWeen 9
Walking Stick
Misc. Bugs
Misc Bugs II  

Birds
Breeding Tips
Button Quail
Canaries
Cockatiels
Dove, Diamond
Dove, Ringneck
Finches
Love Birds
Parakeets
Pelleted Foods
Quaker Parrots
Parrot Pictures
Parrot Pix II
Parrot Pix III
Dave's Parrots

Lizards
Alligators
Anoles
Bearded Dragon
Beardies II
Calotes
Chamel, Jackson
Chamel, Panther
Chamel, Veiled
Crested Geckos
Gecko, Golden
Gecko, House
Gecko, Leopard
Gecko, Tokay
Horned "Toads"
Iguana New
Iguana Dragons
Iguana Q&A I
Iguana Q&A II
Iguana Training
Iguana Update
Cool Iguana Pics
Knight Anoles
Monitors, Nile
Monitors, Savana
Monitors, Water
Salmonella
Skinks
Skinks Blue-Tongue
Tegus
Uromastyx maliensis
Water Dragon
Misc Lizards
Misc Lizards 2
Misc Lizards 3
Misc Lizards 4
Misc Lizards 5
Misc Lizards 6
Misc Lizards 7
Misc Lizards 8
Misc Lizards 9
Misc Lizards 10


Snakes
Anacondas
Boa, Rosy
Boa, Red-Tail
Corn Snake
Garter Snake
Green Snake
Kids/Corn Snakes
Kids/Red-Tail Boas

Kids at Pet Expo 1

Kids at Pet Expo 2

Kids at Pet Expo 3

Kids at Pet Expo 4

Kids at Pet Expo 5
King & Milk
Python, Ball
Python, Burmese

Snakes Alive
Snakesgiving
Snakesgiving II
Misc Snake Pix
Misc Snakes II
Misc Snakes III  

Turtles/Tortoises
Box, Asian
Box, USA
Races
Snapping
Spiny

Sulcata
Water
Western Painted

Live Foods
Blackworms
Blood Worms
Br Shrimp I
Br Shrimp II
Crayfish 1
Crayfish 2
Crayfish 3 
Crickets
Dandelions
Daphnia
Earthworms
Feeder Goldfish
Fruit Flies
Ghost Shrimp

Glass Worms

Grindal Worms
Infusoria
Mealworms
Microworms
Rosy Reds

Super Worms

Wax Worms
White Clouds

Decorating
Bubbles
Driftwood
Gravel
Plastic Plants
Rocks
Slow Growing Plants

Miscellaneous
Bob's Acclimation

How to Start
How to Add New Fish
How to Keep Healthy
Which Fish Get Along?
10 Questions to Ask
What is Ich?
Under Gravel Filters

Sponge Filters
Cloudy Water
Cool Water Tanks
Gravel Vacuums
Preventing Disease
Feeding to the Max
Frozen Foods
Green Water
Nasty Chemicals
Overfeeding
Power Filters
Rift Lake Salts
Quarantine Tank
Mini-Tank
2nd Av Bait

Pet World Visit
Dandelions

Aquatic Plants
Amazon Swords
More Swords
Sword Plants III
Anubias
Anacharis
Aponogetons
A. boivinianus
A. fenestralis
A. ulvaceous
Aquarium/Bog
Banana Plant
Bolbitis
Bunch
Bunch Plants II
Cryptocorynes
Crystalwort
Dwarf Lily
Grassy
Grassy II
Hornwort
Hygrophila
Lace
Java Fern I
Java Fern II
Java Fern III
Java Fern IV
Java Moss
Moss Balls
Onion
Vermiculite
Watersprite
Different Watersprite

 
Local Clubs
Cat-N-Around Cat Club 2006

Cat-N-Around Cat Club 2007
Hawkeye State Cat Club 2004
Hawkeye State Cat Club 2005
CIWGA -- Central Iowa Water Garden Association
Iowa Herp Society
MACBS -- Mid America Caged Bird Society
Iowa Aquaria Association
IAA 02.05.05
EIAA -- Eastern Iowa Aquarium Association
MAS 75th Ann. Show
MCA Expo 2006 -- the Fish
MCA Expo 2006 -- the People

LA
Perhaps the most common fish in Iowa or at least the most common sunfish.

What's in a Name?  Not really a bluegill, even tho they're often called bluegills, the green sunfish has to be the most populous sunfish in the country.  They often hybridize with other sunfish (usually bluegills), so there's quite a bit of variation in their appearance.  By the way, the cyanellus in their name means blue.  They are often incorrectly called bluegills.  Around here, they're also called "sunnies" -- mostly by anglers using them for bait.

LA
Wittmer Pond where all the mini-green sunfish wre captured on film in about an hour.

LA
Just sitting here on these former ice skating entrance steps.  Good set up for kids to catch fish.

Origin.  You usually find green sunfish in lakes and ponds.  They also can be found in small streams.  They're common throughout the U.S. -- perhaps too common for most people other than kids who love to catch the frisky little guys.  (And maybe some of the larger "kids" who just enjoy relaxing in the shade and drowning worms on a warm summer day.)

LA
Note the size of the nightcrawker the first guy tackled.

Invasive.  Green sunfish are probably the peskiest U.S. fish.  Once they find a new biotope, they quickly colonize and overpopulate the joint.  They are the first sunfish to re-populate temporary streams -- streams that dry up in the summer, then re-fill in the spring.  They out-produce their competition and wind up stunting themselves.  Companies that specialize in stocking ponds recommend poisoning the pond when you start detecting green sunfish.  Different states regulate their use as bait in certain waters, because that's the way they jump from lake to lake -- not as eggs on birds' feet.

LA
Note the large mouth.  Makes them very good eaters.

Reproduction.  Green sunfish males dig small pits in shallow water -- often in close proximity to other males.  You may have seen them if you've ever waded into a pond so you could cast out past the weeds and hopefully hook a bass (also a sunfish).  Male green sunfish flash their best colors in breeding season (no surprise there).  Females develop better colors also but not as bright as the males.  Females also plump up during this period.  The male attracts a plump female to lay eggs in his passion pit.  He protects the eggs and fry.  Once they become free-swimming, the fry take off, and he starts courting new females.  Females crank out 2,000 - 26,000 eggs.  Thus the tendency toward overpopulation and stunting.  During their breeding period, anything you drag thru his pit will be hit hard -- any bait or even a piece of tinfoil.

LA
Females full of roe.  Note the barbless hook.  Speeds up the process.

Excellent Competers.  Bass (the most highly sought after sunfish) reproduce similarly.  However, his pit of eggs and fry will soon be surrounded by dozens of hungry greenies.  Even the toughest bass dad can't stand up to speedy little green invaders coming from every which direction.  The green sunfish have little problem finding food.  This keeps them in breeding condition May thru August depending upon which part of the country they inhabit. 

LA
Almost eating size on these guys -- if you have maybe 20 or 30.

Food Chain.  Larger fish and turtles and other larger green sunfish help hold down the impending overpopulation, but the greenies eventually "win" and runt out the pond.  Large channel catfish probably stand the best chance of controlling them, because they come into the shallows and eat them when the sun goes down.  You can usually catch catfish on those overnight ditty poles.  Green sunfish are also highly regarded as a primo flathead bait.  Flatheads, unlike channel cats, are rarely hooked on a non-living bait.

LA
Females seem to run a little smaller, but plumper.  One on right looks like a bluegill hybrid.

Temperature.  Since green sunfish grow all over the U.S., you know they adapt to all temperatures.  They prefer warm ponds and lakes.  In aquaria they're considered a cold water fish.  They need no heater -- but they do need a stable temperature.  I've never seen ich on a sunfish.  However, temperature variations usually lead to ich in other species.

LA
Lots of variation in their colors.

LA
Good water clarity for Iowa.  You can almost see four sunfish here.

Water.  Ditto their near-nationwide ubiquity.  In aquaria green sunfish need clean water.  pH and DH can vary widely as long as you keep it stable.  Weekly water changes help.

LA
Guy on right has a strong bluegill resemblance.

Security.  Treat your green sunfish as you would a cichlid.  When they first hit your tank, they scurry into a corner and do their best to disappear.  Since they dig pits when they get the urge (just like cichlids), plastic plants will work better than live shredable plants.  Rockwork, caves, and driftwood give them anchors to aid in staking out their territories.  Like most cichlids, they usually do best in groups.  They're more interesting when kept in groups.

LA
More bluegill look-a-likes.

Starter Foods.  New arrivals from the wild prefer what they ate in the wild:  smaller fish (including their own species), crustaceans (small crayfish), snails, and insects (aquatic and terrestrial).  Their instant acceptance of worms presages their flexibility in menu items.  Other sunfish such as crappies and bass are not nearly as flexible.  They pretty much insist on minnows.  Green sunfish will accept worms at first.

LA
Nightcrawlers hit the spot for the larger guys.

LA
Tasty.

LA
More males.

Captive Foods.  Your green sunfish will start accepting new foods after a day or two on slim rations.  The easiest foods to start them on include:  feeder guppies, rosy reds, fish worms, live California blackworms, live tubifex worms, and live brine shrimp.  After a few weeks, try the frozen and freeze-dried variations.  They should take plankton (frozen or freeze-dried) also.  Last stage is giving them cichlid pellets or sticks.  If you put some competitive eaters in with them like convicts or tinfoils, they'll catch on quicker.

LA
He eats better when the other fish try to get his food.

LA
Not exactly trophies but decidedly fun to catch.

AA
In with 3 convicts, 1 firemouth, and 2 jack dempseys.

Good Mixers with Cichlids.  Andrew Adams sent me this pic of his bluegill (which looks much like a green sunfish) mixed with cichlids.  Personally I like to see cichlids and sunfish over natural gravel.  Natural gravel brings out their colors.  I'll get some additiional data from Andrew concerning what his bluegill eats.  This just in from Andrew:  "He eats cichlid crumbles, cichlid crisps, and sun-dried shrimp."

Last Words.  Green sunfish have their bad points and their good points.  They can be a challenge in captivity.  In any event, they are fun to catch.  All us kids agree on that.  Always remember to flatten that barb when fishing for these little guys.  LA

News of the Weird. 

LA
You don't see too many fish with this "affliction."

LA
Same guy without the plastic cup.

LA
Same guy after his bandectomy.  He actually partially digested it.

LA
Back in the water and recuperating just fine.

LA
3.5-inch green sunfish.

LA
6-inch green sunfish from Lake Aquabi.  Probable male.

LA
Couple 5-inchers from Witmer Ponds.  Guy on left may be a different species.

LA
Probable male.

LA
Probable female.

LA
Probable female.
 

Jaguar Spawning II
Jewel Fish
Keo's Flowerhorns
Keo's Flowerhorns II
Kribensis
Odd Couple Spawn
Oscars 1
Oscars 2
Oscars 3
Oscars 4
Oscars 5
More Oscar
More Oscar II
More Oscars III
More Oscars 2007
More Oscars 2007.5
Oscar Spawn
Peacock Bass
Red Devils
More Red Devil
Red Parrots
Red Parrots Spawn
Red Parrot Spawn II
Pikes
Pink Tilapia
Rams
Red Bay Snooks
Red Bay Snook Spawn
Roger Stephen's Cichlids
Severums
More Severums
Severums III
Tanganyikans
Texas Cichlid
Texas Spawning
Texas Spawn II
Uarus
Misc Cichlids I
Misc Cichlids II
Misc Cichlids III
Misc Cichlids IV
Misc Cichlids V
Misc Cichlids VI
Misc Cichlids VII
Misc Cichlids VIII
Misc Cichlids IX

Livebearer  
Guppies
Half-Beak
Mollies
Moons/Platys
Swordtails

Minnows/Tetra 
Barbs
Barbs, Black
Barbs, Gold
Barbs, Rosy
Barbs, Tiger
Barbs, Tinfoil
Danios
Danio Egg Saver
Distochodus
Fathead Minnows
Headstanders
Killies, Econ.
Killies, Golden
Killies, Peat
Killies, Plant
Misc Mini-Fish
Pacús 
Piranha, Black
Piranha, Red
Rainbowfish

Rainbowfish, Dwarf Neon
Rainbowfish, Irian
Silver Dollar
Tetras, Larger
Tetras, Smaller
Tetras, Spawn
Tetra, Vampire
White Clouds

Pond Fish
Carp
Channel Cat
Gold. Comets
Gold. Fantails
More Fantails
Gold. Oriental  
Gold Oriental II 
Gold. Spawn
Kloubec Koi Farm
Koi
Koi II

Koi III
Oranda Spawn
Plecostomus
Shubunkins

Oddballs  
Af. Butterfly
Af. Lungfish
Af. Mudskippr
American Eel
Archer Fish
Arowana
Bichirs
Borneo Suckers
Brackish I
Brackish II
Brackish III
Brackish IV
Brackish V
Michael Troung's Pix
Butterfly/Wasp
Chameleon Fish
Chromides
Chin Alg Eater
Crazy Fish
Crocodile Fish
Datnioides
Dojo
Dwarf Puffers
Electric Cat
Electric Eels
Elephant Nose
Exodon paradoxus
Flounder
Gars  
Glassfish
Goby Bumble
Goby Butterfly
Goby Dragon
Goby Misc.
Half-Beak
Knife African
Knife Clown
Knife Ghost
Loach Botias
Loach Clown
Loach Kuhli
Loach Weather

Longear Sunfish
Moray Eel  
Peacock Gudgeons
Polypterids
Puffers
Ropefish
Scats
Siam Algae Eater 
Spiny Eels 
Snakehead
Stingray
Stonefish
Wasp Fish
Wolffish
Wrest Half-Beak
Misc Mini-Fishes
Misc Odd
Misc Odd II
Misc Odd III
Misc Odd  IV

Misc Odd V
Misc Odd VI

Sharks  
Bala
Black
Bull
Chinese Hi-Fin Banded
Iridescent
Red-Tail
Siam Algae Eater

Pond Info 
Blank Park Zoo
Bob Humphrey's Ponds
Cattails
Maffett Reservoir
DMACC's Pond
D.M. Botanical Center
D.M. Water Works
Dr. Ervanian's Garden
Duckweed
Dwarf Lily
Ewing Park "Pond"
Jan & Chris's Water Garden
John McDonald's Pond
Hall's Four Acres
Klines' Water Garden
Landscaper Effects
Mini-Pond Pics
Pioneer Corn's Pond
Pond Fish Predators
Pond on 38th Street 
Pond Pics
Pond Plants
More Pond Plants
Pond Plants III
Reiman Ponds
River Scenes
Riverview Island
Selin's Water Gardens
Selin's Japanese Garden
Tom's Used Cars Pond
Urbandale Duck Pond
Water Hyacinth
Water Lettuce
Wild Ponds