TankBud

Pumpkinseed sunfish

Lepomis gibbosus

FreshwaterFish

Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus)
Lorenz Seebauer · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
41–73°F
5–23°C
pH
6.5–8.5
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
70 gal
265 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Substrate spawner
Rarity
Rare
Family
Centrarchidae
Origin
United States, Canada

Overview

The pumpkinseed sunfish is a colorful but pugnacious North American sunfish for a big cool-water tank. It is an easy fish for a keeper with room to spare.

Did you know

The pumpkinseed carries flattened, molar-like teeth in its throat that can crack open snail shells. They let it feed on prey that most other sunfish cannot handle. Snails and small mussels can make up much of its diet.

Caring for the pumpkinseed sunfish

Given its size and temper, a pumpkinseed sunfish needs a tank of at least 70 gal (265 L) as a sensible floor. Give it open water with planted or rocky shelter. It patrols the middle and lower water.

Keep the tank cool for much of the year, within 41 to 73°F (5 to 23°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 8.5. Let the temperature follow the seasons rather than holding steady tropical heat. The pumpkinseed is hardy but a heavy feeder that fouls water quickly, so it needs powerful filtration.

It eats snails as well as worms, insect larvae, prawn and larger frozen and pellet foods. It treats small fish as a meal. This sunfish is aggressive and territorial, so keep it singly or with large, robust tank mates.

Like its relatives, the male sweeps out a shallow nest in the shallows, guards the eggs and defends the fry. Controlled home breeding is barely recorded, given the tank size these fish demand.

Good to know

The pumpkinseed belongs to the sunfish family Centrarchidae. It has a round, orange-flecked body and blue-green facial streaks.

In the wild

Pumpkinseeds are widespread across the United States and southern Canada. They live in weedy lakes, ponds and quiet stream pools with plenty of cover. They tolerate a wide temperature span, from cold winter water to warm summer shallows.

Common questions

What size tank does a pumpkinseed sunfish need?

A pumpkinseed sunfish needs at least 70 gal (265 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a pumpkinseed sunfish need?

A pumpkinseed sunfish is comfortable at 41–73°F (5–23°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.5.

What does a pumpkinseed sunfish eat?

A pumpkinseed sunfish eats snails, worms, insect larvae, prawn and larger frozen and pellet foods. Small fish count as food to it as well.

How big does a pumpkinseed sunfish get?

An adult pumpkinseed sunfish reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

How does a pumpkinseed sunfish breed?

Males sweep out a shallow nest, guard the eggs and then defend the fry. Controlled breeding at home is barely recorded because of the tank size a pumpkinseed needs.

Related species