 New Tank with Native Fish!
Here's quote from Melauriga in an earlier thread that I'd like to update:
Melaurigia to another hobbyist: "You might consider North American native fish for an unheated tank. Sunfish are pretty spectacular and have interesting breeding behavior. There are even pygmy sunfish that grow around 1
1.5". Native killies like the Bluefin killifish, Florida flagfish are quite colorful. There are also native livebearers, darters, shiners, etc."
I set up a new 55 gal three months ago. The juvenile Tanganyikans and Rainbowfish I purchased specifically for it started dying out one-by-one. (Only a male Betta survived.) In the meantime, I came across 6 Sunfish that I had in my pond and totally forgotten about. (They had been given to me last summer by someone from the Aquarium Society who's into native fish.)
I was cleaning out the pond when I found them buried in the stinky muck I was throwing out. What impressed me is that the fish weren't looking too shabby. They had survived the winter in a small pond with no filtration and absolutely no care.
With reassurance from my friend, I put the Sunfish into my 55 gal. Other than a male Betta, this 55 gal is now their exclusive home. These fish are absolutely wonderful! Tough, beautiful, interesting behavior, and maximum size is less than 4 inches. Only downside so far is that Sunfish don't seem to like to eat anything but worms. So I give them freeze dried bloodworms and live earthworms.
I keep the tank heated to keep my tropical plants happy. Sunfish may be able to survive coldwater, but I figure they won't mind having a permanent summer.
The Sunfish are brand new territory for me, but so far I'm quite pleased. Advice is welcome!
Blue-spotted Sunfish Enneacanthus gloriosus. | 
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