Redbreast Sunfish

Redbreast sunfish are more elongated than other Lepomis species and generally attain lengths of up to (10 in). Adult redbreast sunfish are brownish above with olive green or violet hues. Their heads have lines and spots of a pale blue color, and the flap of the gill cover is black with a pale yellow edge. The sides of the fish are greenish with vertical bars that tend to be more distinct in females than in males. The underside is yellowish white, except during breeding season, when it becomes bright orange in the males and yellow in the females (hence the redbreast sunfish's common name). Similar to most sunfish, redbreast sunfish are sight feeders and capture food either by lying in wait and making a sudden lunge or by actively foraging along the bottom. Preferred food items of redbreast sunfish include aquatic insects, small crustaceans, and fish. They most often feed in the middle of the water column. Spawning occurs from May through August when water temperatures range from 68 to 82 degrees. Males are the nest builders and guard the eggs and larvae for a short period after hatching. The number of eggs laid in a season ranges from about 1,000 to 10,000, varying with the age and size of the female.