Table of contents
- Always keep only the common bluegill!
- It is best to keep the bluegill alone or with other fish species!
- Correct pond depth & suitable pond equipment
- Keep an eye on water quality!
- Be sure to feed properly!
- Always approach the pond very carefully!
- Proper hibernation!
- alternative
The bluegill is certainly an ornament for every garden pond. It can be kept alone, in pairs or in company with other species of fish. However, it is not entirely unproblematic as a predatory fish. It also places special demands on the pond and its feed. And because the animal is also extremely keen to reproduce, nothing works without "birth control". Here are a few tips:
Always keep only the common bluegill!
Sunfish is not just sunfish. A number of species now exist under the family name. Many of them are wonderfully suited for a cold water aquarium, but not for the garden pond. Only the common sunfish, whose Latin name is Lepomis gibbosus, comes into question. So if you are thinking of putting a sunfish in your pond, you should definitely ask about this species in a specialist shop. On the one hand it is extremely robust and on the other hand it is one of the less aggressive perch species.
A notice:
The bluegill gets along well with other fish species. However, under no circumstances should it be kept in the pond with other perch species, as this would lead to territorial disputes.
It is best to keep the bluegill alone or with other fish species!
Bluegills are not necessarily a social fish species. They therefore do not feel comfortable within a swarm with other conspecifics. They would see them more as competition and as a source of a great deal of stress. It is therefore advisable to keep only one sunfish in a pond at a time. Although it is at least theoretically possible to keep them in pairs, there is a risk that that the animals multiply excessively and that the population is then very difficult to control gets. Birth control is therefore best achieved by making copulation impossible in the first place. Although the bluegill is a predatory fish like all perch, it gets along relatively well with other fish species. However, it may be that he eats their spawn in the water.
A notice:
The combination of koi with a bluegill has proven to be particularly successful. The koi in particular benefit from this, as Lepomis gibbosus reliably eats vermin that could be dangerous to them.
Correct pond depth & suitable pond equipment
Hardly any garden owner will create a pond specifically for a sunfish. Rather, the pond will already exist and be stocked with other species of fish. Whether Lepomis gibbosus feels comfortable in it depends on whether the following factors are met:
- Pond depth of at least 70 cm
- several shallow spots with a maximum depth of 20 cm
- preferably sandy soil
- Hiding places like stones or roots
- large, robust plants with lush foliage
- enough free space to swim
- clear, preferably cold water
Since the sunfish likes it rather fresh, despite its name, a pond location that is continuously exposed to the sun is not recommended. Especially in summer, the water would heat up quickly and too much. Under certain circumstances, however, a bank planting with lushly growing and shade-giving grasses and shrubs can be helpful in such a case.
Keep an eye on water quality!
Sunfish are extremely sensitive to change. This applies in particular to the milieu in which they live. They therefore do not cope well with changes in water quality. It is therefore essential to ensure that the quality of the water remains constant at all times. Above all, it is important
- that the water is clean and free from contamination as far as possible,
- that it is well ventilated, especially in summer,
- and that the pH is always greater than 7.0.
A notice:
During the warm summer months, the sunfish's need for oxygen increases enormously. As a rule, this can only be covered if oxygen is supplied by means of a pump.
Be sure to feed properly!
It cannot be said often enough: Perch are predatory fish. Of course, this also applies to sunfish. Consequently, it prefers living food above all. It should therefore primarily be fed live food. The following have proven to be ideal:
- mosquito larvae
- water fleas
- Tubifexes
- worms
- Fly
- water snails
Some live food can be purchased in specialist shops. The feed is given directly into the water of the pond. It is also possible to feed frozen food, which is usually easier to administer. Dry food, on the other hand, should remain the absolute exception. Incidentally, the sunfish will also use animal food that automatically settles in the pond. Even the leaves of the plants are not safe from him. If it is kept with other fish species, their spawn is definitely part of its prey.
Always approach the pond very carefully!
Sunfish are extremely skittish animals. They often react in panic to unforeseen, surprising events. They then flee and hide. This always means a lot of stress for the animals. You should therefore always approach the garden pond very carefully and quietly. This is the only way to guarantee that you will see such a magnificent animal.
Proper hibernation!
In principle, Lepomis gibbosus can also remain in the pond during the winter months. However, it must have the necessary depth for this. The minimum is 70 cm, but a depth of around 1 m is better. In addition, the pond must not freeze over completely. A closed ice sheet prevents the entry of oxygen. In a pinch, you have to break open the ice cover regularly, even if that means startling the bluegill. On the other hand, you can safely do without feeding them during the winter. The animals reduce their metabolism so drastically that they do not need any additional food.
alternative
Alternatively, the sunfish can also be transferred to a cold water aquarium during the cold season. However, since Lepomis gibbosus has its problems with changes, as already mentioned, this is not a completely harmless undertaking. It is always better to leave it in place and to ensure that the pond surface is permanently open. It's also cheaper.
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