Sunfish, Bluegill, Brim, and Bream

Descriptions
Sunfish and Brim are species of freshwater fish in the genus Lepomis. We are not talking about Opahs or Mola-Mola, large bony fish from the sea. The most common species and most recognizable of these is the Bluegill. These fish are found all over lakes and streams in North America and occasionally at your local pet store. They will start off small, about say 2 inches, but can quickly grow to about 20 inches.

Species

• L. auritus - Redbreast sunfish
• L. cyanellus - Green sunfish
• L. gibbosus - Pumpkinseed
• L. gulosus - Warmouth
• L. humilis - Orangespotted Sunfish
• L. macrochirus - bluegill
• L. macrochirus purpurescens - Florida Bluegill
• L. macrochirus spp - Handpaint Bluegill
• L. marginatus - Dollar Sunfish
• L. megalotis peltastes - Northern Longear Sunfish
• L. megalotis megalotis - Central Longear Sunfish
• L. megalotis spp - Ox-bow Longear Sunfish
• L. microlophus - redear Sunfish
• L. miniatus - Redspotted Sunfish
• L. punctatus - Spotted Sunfish
• L. symmetricus - Bantam Sunfish

A Lively Fish
After about a week after introducing your fish, he will become very active and feed on fish food. He may even interact with you! Like cichlids, they love to play. They will sometimes more objects around in aquariums or jump out of the aquarium.Provide them with enrichment and try to mirror there habitat.

Gone Fishing
Now adopting this fish can come at a challenge, not many pet stores sell them! Its not that they are rare or expensive, just that no one can hold such as large fish! The easiest way to catch one is to go fishing! Check the sun. Make sure its about noon. Then you will have the best chance of catching one, at least in North America. Attach a bread ball to the tip of your small hook and drop it in the lake. You should be able to catch a few using this technique. They are panfish, meaning that they can be caught all year round in america Another way it just to strap on your waiters and wade into a stream or lake. Use a long net to catch them. After catching your fish make sure they are healthy and not injured to badly. I recommend catching one about 2-6 inches long, anything bigger requires a tank over 40 gallons at least! Check with your state's or countries fishing laws before running out and catching one!

Tank Requirements and Tips

• House them along or with hardy fish for they can nibble on the fins or docile fish.
• Your fish will eat flaky fish food, but also mix in a diet of insects for it to grow. 
• Be prepared for it to grow into a large fish in the future. Remember that you can release it back into the wild or buy a bigger aquarium.
• When adopting from the wild, make sure it does not carry any parasites or sickness that could harm your other fish. Isolate it for a while and toss in some parasite killed. This can be found at your local fish store.
• They do not need a fish heater but do need oxygenated water and a filter. They can poop a lot. 
• Water wise have the water be either neutral or alkaline, they are not that big of fans when it comes to acidic but because they are hardy fish they can tolerate it. 

Conclusion
Sunfish, Bluegill, Brim, and Bream are all hardy, lively fish. You can go out and catch them for free, so long as its legal. They are a bit of a gamble though, make sure they are not sick before introducing them into your main aquarium. They are a wonderful fish for a beginner.

Nemo