Everglades pygmy sunfish
Elassoma evergladei
Also known as Florida pygmy sunfish, Pygmy sunfish
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 54–82°F
- 12–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 1.3 in
- 3.4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 8 gal
- 30 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Elassomatidae
- Origin
- Native to the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Florida, in heavily planted, still swamps and ditches.
Overview
The Everglades pygmy sunfish is a tiny, shy fish for a densely planted species tank. It is best with a little experience.
Did you know
The thumbnail-sized Everglades pygmy sunfish lives happily at room temperature, despite its sunfish name. It is often kept in an unheated tank.
Caring for the Everglades pygmy sunfish
Give Everglades pygmy sunfish a densely planted tank of at least 8 gal (30 L). Keep the water at 54 to 82°F (12 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. They do best on the cool side, around 18 to 24°C.
They generally need small live and frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp, microworm and daphnia. They often ignore flake.
Keep a small group in a calm species tank. They are peaceful but shy, and other fish easily outcompete them.
Courting males flash black and iridescent blue and perform a jerky dance to attract females. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.
Good to know
Elassoma evergladei belongs to the pygmy sunfish family Elassomatidae. It is a temperate fish that tolerates a wide range of temperatures. It is also called the Florida pygmy sunfish.
In the wild
The Everglades pygmy sunfish is native to the southeastern United States, from North Carolina to Florida. It lives in still, heavily vegetated swamps and ditches, where it picks tiny invertebrates from among the plants.
Common questions
What size tank does an Everglades pygmy sunfish need?
An Everglades pygmy sunfish needs at least 8 gal (30 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an Everglades pygmy sunfish need?
An Everglades pygmy sunfish is comfortable at 54–82°F (12–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does an Everglades pygmy sunfish eat?
An Everglades pygmy sunfish eats small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, microworm and daphnia. It often ignores flake.
How big does an Everglades pygmy sunfish get?
An adult Everglades pygmy sunfish reaches about 1.3 in (3.4 cm).
How does an Everglades pygmy sunfish breed?
Everglades pygmy sunfish males court females with a jerky dance and flashes of black and iridescent blue. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.
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