The pair circle each other and after a short time the pair stops circling, the female releases her eggs and the male simultaneously fertilizes them. The males then remain on their nests to fan and guard the eggs. The adult Banded Sunfish are housed in a 20 gallon high aquarium and spent their summer in my shed. It is equipped with a thermostatically controlled exhaust fan to prevent heat buildups. Filtration is provided by an internal power head attached to a sponge filter and an air driven corner box filter.
Lighting is provided by a florescent tube situated on top of the tank.
By pushing the light to the back of the tank the light intensity can be lowered to appropriate levels. An inch and a half of gravel is provided along with a flower pot turned on its side. There are no plants in this tank. To aid in the wintering process and to insulate it from the summer heat the tank is enclosed in a plywood box with a removable lid insulated with styrofoam. An air space of about 4 inches surrounds the sides and top of the tank.