Northern Sunfish
NameNorthern Sunfish
Scientific NameLepomis megalotis
Common NamesNorthern Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Red-breasted Bream, Sun Perch
FamilyCentrarchidae
OriginNorth America, Great Lakes Basin, Mississippi River Basin, Gulf Coast states
Temperamentsemi-aggressive
Dietomnivore
Care Levelintermediate
Minimum Tank Size (Gallons)30
Max Size (Inches)9
Water TypeFreshwater
Temperature Range (°F)65-75
pH Range6.5-7.5
Compatible SpeciesLarger Minnows, Creek Chubs, Other robust sunfish (with caution), Larger Darters, Bullheads, Small Catfish
Description
The Northern Sunfish, a variant of the Longear Sunfish, is a strikingly colorful freshwater fish native to North America. It is characterized by iridescent blue-green wavy lines on its head and operculum, numerous orange-red spots on its body, and a distinctive elongated black opercular flap. Males exhibit more intense coloration, especially during breeding.
