Bluespotted sunfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bluespotted sunfish |
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The bluespotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus) is a small, colorful fish that belongs to the sunfish family, called Centrarchidae. You can find this fish in the southeastern and eastern United States. Its home range stretches from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and southern New York all the way down south. While it lives naturally in most of these places, some populations, like those in Lake Ontario and the upper Susquehanna River system, were introduced by people.
This fish often lives alongside its close cousin, the banded sunfish (E. obesus). They look so similar that it can be tricky to tell them apart! Sometimes, these two species even breed together.
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What Does It Look Like?
This little fish usually grows to about 9.5 centimeters (about 3.7 inches) long. It's one of the smallest fish in the sunfish family! It has spiny fins on its back and belly, and its tail fin is nicely rounded.
The bluespotted sunfish gets its name from the many white or blue dots that cover its body. Some of these spots can even shimmer with rainbow colors! Occasionally, you might see a few faint bars on its sides, but these are pretty rare, especially on older fish.
Where Does It Live?
This freshwater fish loves to live in ponds, lakes, creeks, streams, and medium-sized rivers. If it lives near the coast, it can even handle water that's a little bit salty. It especially likes small, quiet areas filled with lots of plants and tree roots.
The bluespotted sunfish is sometimes kept as a pet in aquariums because of its pretty colors.
Life in Different Places
The life of a bluespotted sunfish can be a bit different depending on where it lives. For example, fish living on the East Coast or in Florida tend to grow larger than those in Mississippi. Also, fish in northern areas become ready to have babies when they are bigger. This might be because in warmer places, fish can start reproducing earlier, putting their energy into making eggs instead of growing bigger bodies.
Fish in the eastern parts of its range can live for about 5 years. However, fish in the southern areas usually don't live that long. The time when they lay eggs, called the spawning season, is also much longer in warmer southern regions. This is probably because of the warmer temperatures and longer days.
How Does It Reproduce?
The bluespotted sunfish can lay eggs many times during a single season. Sometimes, they even lay eggs every day for a long period! The male fish builds a nest, either on the bottom of the water or among plants. A female can lay anywhere from 42 to 216 eggs at one time.
What Does It Eat?
The bluespotted sunfish mostly eats tiny creatures that float in the water, known as plankton. Its diet includes:
- Tiny crustaceans called cyclopoid copepods
- Water fleas
- Midge larvae
- Ostracods (tiny crustaceans with shells)
- Amphipods (small shrimp-like creatures)
- Small snails
Because it loves to eat tiny aquatic larvae, the bluespotted sunfish can even help with mosquito control!
