Bluegill Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus
The Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 265 litres (70 US gallons), water held at 41-73°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
North America
- Central America & Mexico
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Bluegill Sunfish Tank Setup
Treat 265 litres (70 US gallons) as a starting point - big predators need length, strong filtration, and a secure lid. Hold the water at 41-73°F and pH 6.5-7.5, and assume anything small enough to swallow will eventually be eaten. They grow to around 35 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Bluegill Sunfish Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Bluegill Sunfish Tank Mates
Requires a large tank and good filtration. The Bluegill Sunfish is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Bluegill Sunfish Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Bluegill Sunfish - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Bluegill Sunfish need?
Bluegill Sunfish need a tank of at least 265 litres (70 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Bluegill Sunfish need?
Keep them at 41-73°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Bluegill Sunfish eat?
Bluegill Sunfish are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Bluegill Sunfish good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Bluegill Sunfish to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Common mistakes with Bluegill Sunfish
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 265 litres (70 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Bluegill Sunfish against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Bluegill Sunfish
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- AxolotlPredator - Axolotl will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Zebra DanioFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
