Enneacanthus chaetodon (Blackbanded Sunfish) for sale $8 each or 6 for $40.
They are native to the swamps and slow moving waters of the east coast from NJ to Florida. They are friendly, not aggressive except when spawning. They are carnivores of aquatic insects, daphnia and shrimp but they will take dried foods. When first introduced into the hobby they were referred to as North American angelfish probably because of their vertical black stripes. They do well planted tanks.
It is hard to tell males from females except when the females are full of eggs.
Please respond in this tread or email me at aquaticlifefarm@gmail.com
Frank,
I'll take six, and will pick up at the September meeting.
Matt
Most are from the pond, some from the tank. All are growing well on a diet that included daphnia and quality dried foods (micro pellets and crushed flake).
Black banded sunfish are natives to the east coast and so survive under ice and survive high temperatures. I tend to keep them at 70-80. They tend to spawn in the spring in the pond but spawn most anytime in the aquarium. I think they may be one of the types of fish that need to have a period of cold for a month or so prior to spawning but maybe not. Forty F for a month is probably all that is needed and that can be achieved by putting a tank with them in it in the refrigerator.
They live 4 or 5 years although I think some in the pond have lived longer.
Are these fry from the fishroom or your ponds outside? At NEC last Spring Rosario LaCorte harped on the importance of feeding fry and juveniles diets high in chitin for beautiful fin development. Can't imagine anyone else's fry get more chitin in their diet than yours!
You might want to mention temperature and other requirements for parties interested in this gorgeous species.
Great that you’re breeding them again, Frank!