(http://www.ibnature.com)

Working With Mother Nature Not Against Her

Inspired By Nature, Inc. is a pond and lake management company dedicated to providing a natural alternative to

excessive chemical applications with minimal maintenance. Inspired by Nature serves the needs of Ohio, Michigan,and

Indiana pond and lake owners.

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Before You Stock Fish (/before-you-stock-fish)

Commonly Used Pond Chemicals (/commonly-used-pond-chemicals)

Copper Compounds as Algaecides (/copper-compounds-as-algaecides)

Download Files (/files)

Few Facts on Sun Fish (/few-facts-on-sun-fish)

Holistic Pond Management (/holistic-pond-management)

What Are Beneficial Mircobes? (/what-are-beneficial-mircobes)

Why Aeration Is Important (/why-aeration-is-important)

Few Facts on Sun Fish | Inspired By Nature http://www.ibnature.com/few-facts-on-sun-fish

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Sunfish are undisputedly one of the most popular fish for ponds and small lakes. Sunfish encompass a wide variety of

fish including bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish, hybrid bluegill, pumpkinseed, and even largemouth bass. This fact

sheet will discuss the two primary prey species, bluegill and redear sunfish. Sunfish are well adapted to pond life and

provide a sustained forage base for larger predators. They also offer excellent recreational and table fare

opportunities.

When stocking sunfish, or any forage fish for that matter, it is essential to stock a predatory fish (for example

Largemouth Bass). In the absence of predators, sunfish will reproduce to such a rate that your pond will become

overrun with small, malnourished fish. This situation referred to as “stunting” produces poor fishing conditions and an

imbalance in the fish population.

Also, when it comes to stocking any sunfish, it is very important to ensure that you are in fact stocking the sunfish

species that you desire. Most sunfish have similar characteristics, sometimes making identification difficult. However,

many are quite different in habitat usage and temperament. Therefore, haphazardly stocking sunfish into your pond

can create many headaches in the future. Take the green sunfish for example. Superficially, they resemble a bluegill. 

However, if a sizable population of green sunfish becomes established in your pond, you can usually expect small fish

size and very aggressive fish that bite swimmers.

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

Bluegill are the most popular and best suited sunfish for fishing

ponds. Pure bred bluegill have a very small mouth with an upper

jaw that does not typically extend to the front of the eye. Their

opercle (gill flap) is flexible and the bluegill have a long, moderately

pointed pectoral fin. There is also a dusky spot on the webbing of

last three fin rays on dorsal fin. Two bars extend back from the

mouth and chin, and the lower end of gill cover is bluish, hence the

name bluegill. There are 5-9 double bars on their sides with young bluegill having a few, large spots on their breast. By

fall, bluegill will reach 1.0” to 4.0”with adult bluegill reaching sizes of 3.5” –10.0”. In regard to habitat, bluegills are most

abundant where suspended clays and silts are absent and vegetation present. Their preferred spawning habitats are

bottoms consisting of sand, gravel or muck. Bluegills will spawn several times throughout the summer, providing

considerable forage for predatory fish.

Few Facts on Sun Fish | Inspired By Nature http://www.ibnature.com/few-facts-on-sun-fish

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Redear Sunfish have proven to be an excellent addition to the

fisheries of many ponds and lakes. A relative of the Bluegill, the

Redear sunfish is similar in shape and size. Redear are most easily recognized by the red spot on the back side of

opercle (gill cover) on males. This spot is orange in females. They also have long pointed pectoral fins and dorsal and

anal fins without definite spots. Juveniles can reach 3.0” by fall with adults reaching 4.5” to 9.0”.

Differences between bluegill and redear arise when comparing the habitat and feeding requirements of the two. First of

all, Redear sunfish are very structure oriented, unlike their Bluegill counterparts who will frequent open waters. Like

bluegill, redear sunfish consume small aquatic insects. However, snails and other mollusks comprise a large portion of

the Redear’s diet. Although both species will inhabit sand and gravel beach areas during their spawning season,

Redear sunfish usually reproduce only once per season, reducing the time they will be in the beach area.

The reduced spawning that is characteristic of the redear also enhances their role in some pond and lake ecosystems. 

These systems include ponds used primarily for swimming, where fishing is of low priority. However, it should be noted

that having redear as the only forage in a pond will not support a very large predator population. To enhance the

predator’s growth, additional forage such as fathead minnows must be added if a healthy predator population is

desired.

Both Bluegill and Redear sunfish can be stocked within the same fishing pond. In fact, these species are able to cross

or hybridize with each other. The hybrid of a bluegill and Redear sunfish show excellent hybrid vigor, meaning that the

next generation of fish grow faster and are more desirable than the parent species. Hybridization of these species will

be more pronounced in ponds with limited water clarity.

Sunfish are the base of most farm pond fisheries. With their tolerance small, shallow waters, as well as their

desirability for fishing and consumption, they are a great addition to most any pond. Please contact Inspired by Nature,

Inc with further questions or stocking recommendations for your pond.

References:

Trautman, M.B. 1981. The Fishes of Ohio. The Ohio State University Press. 782 pp.

All Tilapia are NOT Equal

IBN sells ONLY Pure Blue Tilapia NOT hybrid Tilapia. When you buy Blue Tilapia from IBN you get:

6" plus fish that are Brood Stock - ready to reproduce

Few Facts on Sun Fish | Inspired By Nature http://www.ibnature.com/few-facts-on-sun-fish

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Blue Tilapia live longer 

Begin eating plant material right away

Why Stocking "Tilapia" is not the same

Smaller Sized Fish are not ready to reproduce

Stocked Later in Season

Die Earlier in Season

By stocking smaller Tilapia you will NOT have the same amount of overall consumption! Don't fall into the trap of buying

smaller fish. 

Key to Natural Pond Management

Nutrients are key in natural pond management. Our management techniques identify nutrient problems, develop means of

reducing nutrient input, and provide long term control of residual nutrients. In doing so, we are taking the excessive

nutrients responsible for nuisance plant growth and converting them into more manageable plant and animal

growth. Using an array of tools such as Beneficial Microbes and Bottom Aeration, Inspired By Nature, Inc. provides safe,

low maintenance, and affordable solutions for your pond or lake.

To inquire or order any of our products or services please contact us at 419-669-4084

Tilapia

In 2010, we introduced Blue Tilapia as a tool to help manage ponds naturally. Since that time we have seen incredible

results! Tilapia are NOT a magic bullet but when used at proper stocking rates they can be a very effective. Tilapia

alone are not going to solve all of your pond troubles! Read more about Tilapia here (http://www.ibnature.com/content

/14467)

Schooner Farms

Sustainable, Non-Conventional Farming, inspired by nature! In 2009 we added another segment ot our business -

Schooner Farms. Visit us at www.schoonerberries.com (http://www.schoonerberries.com)

Raw Honey

CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

Educational Classes

Pasture Raised & Certified Organically Fed Poultry & Fresh Eggs

Volunteer & Intern Opportunities

Shiitake Mushrooms

and more

Contact Us (/contact)

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Few Facts on Sun Fish (/few-facts-on-sun-fish) Holistic Pond Management (/holistic-pond-management) What Are

Beneficial Mircobes? (/what-are-beneficial-mircobes) Why Aeration Is Important (/why-aeration-is-important)

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