The Peaceful Pygmy Sunfish, Family Elassomatidae
Looking to set up a small North American-themed tank with some colorful and interesting fish? The pygmy sunfish may be just what you are looking for. They are opposites to the centrarchid sunfish in many ways… being tiny, timid, and slightly more demanding in terms of water quality, but are striking fish that can be kept in smaller display tanks.
Species
Though several of these species were once classified in the family Centrarchidae (black basses, sunfish), all members of the family Elassomatidae are now in the genus Elassoma. This genus contains 7 species, all of which are native to North America:
- Elassoma alabamae (Spring Pygmy Sunfish)
- Elassoma boehlkei (Carolina Pygmy Sunfish)
- Elassoma evergladei (Everglades Pygmy Sunfish)
- Elassoma gilberti (Gulf Coast Pygmy Sunfish)
- Elassoma okatie (Bluebarred Pygmy Sunfish)
- Elassoma okefenokee (Okefenokee Pygmy Sunfish) [pictured]
- Elassoma zonatum (Banded Pygmy Sunfish)
In the US, you will very rarely see any of these species traded commercially. Interestingly enough, the Blackbanded and Everglades Pygmy Sunfish have enjoyed small niches in the fishkeeping trade in Europe.
Conservation Status
The Bluebarred and Carolina Pygmy Sunfish populations are considered decreasing and Vulnerable by the IUCN. The Spring Pygmy Sunfish is Critically Endangered and the other species are of Least Concern.
Distribution
The pygmy sunfish are found in the southeast part of the United States. Most are native to the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida, though the Spring and Everglades Pygmy Sunfish are also found in Alabama. The Banded Pygmy Sunfish is the widest distributed, and lives in parts of Texas, Illinois, Indiana, as well as the Carolinas and Florida.
Description
These are extremely small fish. The largest (the Banded Pygmy Sunfish) reaches a massive 2 inches in length, while the shortest (the Gulf Coast Pygmy Sunfish) is a mere 1 inch long. All other species are about 1.3 inches.
Pygmy sunfish are very shy animals. In the wild, they spend most of the day hiding under leaf litter on the bottom of ponds. While this can be replicated in the home aquarium, they will gladly hide among the plants instead if that option is presented. Lighting should be mostly subdued through the use of floating plants.
Unlike the boisterous centrarchid sunfish, the pygmy sunfish are not at all aggressive, though spawning males will establish small (around one square foot) territories from which they will chase away other males. Fights between these fish rarely lead to any damage. Among dissimilar fish, pygmy sunfish avoid larger or overly active fish and are best kept in a Species-only tank or with small, relaxed tankmates like some of the smaller madtoms, killifish, or livebearers. The best tankmates for pygmy sunfish are likely Dwarf Mosquitofish (Heterandria formosa) as they are reserved, completely inoffensive, and produce live fry at regular intervals which the pygmy sunfish can consume.
Feeding
These fish should be fine consuming most any live or frozen foods given to them, including brine and mysis shrimp, bloodworms, mosquito larvae, or blackworms. They should eventually convert to eating prepared foods, though it’s good practice to still feed frozen foods once in a while. They may also eat smaller snails in the tank.
Water Quality
Somewhat uncommon among North American fish, the pygmy sunfish seem to appreciate somewhat acidic conditions. A pH of 6.5-7 and dH 5-12 seems to be appreciated by most species, though the Carolina Pygmy Sunfish is noted as living in water as acidic as pH 5.5. Some are found in slightly basic water too, though I would avoid anything more basic or alkaline than pH 7.5, dH 15. These are subtropical and temperate fish, so no heater is required as long as the water stays in the high 60’s. As they live in slightly stagnant conditions, filtration should be modest; a tank turnover of 4-6 times the volume per hour is plenty.
Brackish Suitability
Like most soft water fish, pygmy sunfish do not have a great tolerance for brackish water. The Banded Pygmy Sunfish is perhaps the only species that is able to live in brackish water (reportedly up to a specific gravity of 1.005). It is naturally found in waters up to pH 7.5, dH 20, which would make it able to live in low end brackish conditions indefinitely.That said, as these fish really should be kept on their own, and they thrive perfectly well in freshwater, there is little reason to want to use marine salt in a tank with them.
Tank Size
With the exception of the Banded Pygmy Sunfish (which needs a 10 gallon, minimum), each of these species could be kept as singletons in a 5 gallon aquarium, or possibly in pairs. That said, soft water is somewhat unstable and prone to fluctuations in pH (compared to hard water) and thus larger volumes are preferred. A small group in a 10 gallon tank, with plenty of cover, would make a lovely set up. If keeping with tankmates, consider a 20 gallon long tank to be the smallest practical setup.
Breeding
Like killifish, the pygmy sunfishes are egg scatterers and females spawn near live plants or under leaf matter. The males protect the eggs until they hatch (usually, 48 hours after being laid). Reportedly, if the adults are fed well then they ignore fry but they seem just as likely to eat the newborns if the opportunity arises. The fry are small at first and will need to eat infusoria before they can graduate to larger foods like newly hatched brine shrimp.
Final Thoughts
It’s a shame that pygmy sunfish are more popular for keeping in Europe than they are in their native lands. They are relatively undemanding fish which are attractive and perfect choices for smaller specimen tanks. It’s true that they are shy, timid fish which can only be kept with certain other species, but that does not stop them from being rewarding choices for keeping at home.
Sources
Fish Identification, Fishbase
North American Fishes for the Home Aquarium, David M. Schlesser
Our Native Fishes, John R. Quinn
The Everglades Pygmy Sunfish, Joseph S.
My new Elassoma gilberti are sick with fungus?, Badman’s Tropical Fish Forum
Banded Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma zonatum, Fishes of Texas
