Re: [GSAS-Member] Pumpkinseed Sunfish?

["Clifford Miller" <clifford@clevergeek.com>]

I've never seen them available in a store, although fish farms in NY
semi-commonly carried them (for pond stocking as forage fish, although not
as commonly as other sunfish-- green, redear/shellcracker, bluegill or
coppernose bg were more commonly offered for sale).  They do breed in very
close quarters, so breeding in a large tank shouldn't be difficult...I've
seen small ponds in breeding season with (literally) hundreds of nests
(small cleared out circles) built back to back in the shallow weeds...

Most of the pumpkinseeds I've caught have had fairly average color, but
some of them are absolute show stoppers (bright florescent blends of
yellow, green, blue red and orange...couldn't find any decent examples on
google images...).  I'm actually kind of surprised they don't have more
traction in the hobby.  Mine were also quite personable...always seemed
"happy" to see me, and would eat pellets from my hands.

Cliff



> Here's an article about breeding pumpkinseeds:
>
> http://www.nanfa.org/articles/acpumpkin.shtml
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com
> [mailto:gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of jay98116@comcast.net
> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 3:09 PM
> To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat; Greater Seattle Aquarium
> Society member chat
> Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] Pumpkinseed Sunfish?
>
>
> The answer is very rarely, in fact not at all in Seattle. I've had quite a
> few native fishes but I've all gotten them by mailorder places and
> Aquabid,
> or by bringing them back from trips to visit my folks in Florida and N.
> Carolina.  None of the few smaller freshwater fishes that are truly native
> in WA are really suitable for aquariums (they need to be too cold and get
> too big, among other things -  think salmon and trout) but there are tons
> of
> really great aquarium fishes native east of the Rockies that should be
> sold
> and bred in captivity, but can't seem to compete with the tropical imports
> in shops.
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: daveandfrances@comcast.net
>
>> This raises a question for me...are such aquarium-suitable coldwater
>> fish available in any LFS?
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> -------------- Original message --------------
>> From: "Tom Watson"
>>
>> > I've caught pumpkinseed sunfish in Palmer Lake on the Key Peninsula.
>> > I haven't kept them in aquaria. A partial listing of lakes in King
>> > county that have pumpkinseed sunfish and other exotic fish is here:
>> >
>> > http://www.angelfire.com/wa/nwfishing/lakeskingcounty.html
>> >
>> > Once there, in your browser, click edit, find on this page. Then
>> > type "pumpkinseed sunfish". There are 4 or 5 lakes that are listed
>> > as containing pumpkinseeds. There are probably many more. Bluegill
>> > are the most common sunfish in this area but pumpkinseeds are much
>> > prettier, second only to long ear sunfish.
>> >
>> > All panfish are easy to take on hook and line (which is the only
>> > legal way to collect them). They are hearty and adapt well to
>> > aquaria. Once caught it is important that they not be released into
>> > another body of water because as exotics they compete for resources
>> > with native organisms. Once kept in an aquarium they must never be
>> > returned to the wild because they may have been exposed to exotic
> diseases or parasites which could spread in the wild.
>> >
>> > You can find out more about this fish at the web site below.
>> >
>> > Tom Watson
>> > NANFA Treasurer
>> > West Hyblos Creek Drainage
>> > Washington State
>> > www.nanfa.org
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com
>> > [mailto:gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of Larry Litten
>> > Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:19 PM
>> > To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat
>> > Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] Pumpkinseed Sunfish?
>> >
>> > Cliff,
>> >
>> > I have caught several sunfish while fly fishing on Cottage Lake out
>> > by my house (Woodinville-Duvall Rd and Avondale area). I think they
>> > might have been pumpkinseeds but aren't there several varieties of
> sunfish?
>> >
>> > PS- got your check today. THANKS!
>> >
>> > Larry Litten
>> > Wilbur-Ellis Co.
>> > (206)310-5530
>> > llitten@wecon.com
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com
>> > [mailto:gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of Clifford
>> > Miller
>> > Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 4:20 PM
>> > To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat
>> > Subject: [GSAS-Member] Pumpkinseed Sunfish?
>> >
>> >
>> > Sorry to ask a fishing question on the list, but I was curious if
>> > there might be any area anglers that had encountered illegally
>> > introduced pumpkinseed sunfish in Western Washington? (ps's are more
>> > or less smallish colorful bluegill...)
>> >
>> > I've read that they can be found in many local-ish lakes (including
>> > bitter lake, which I think is in-town?), but would be curious to
>> > hear first-hand reports...
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> >
>> > Cliff
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
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