Bayou De' Zaire Stump Perch..

Comment

Comment by Leo Nguyen on March 29, 2012 at 9:00am

And, just to toss in the studies about dominance food sources and coloration info, since the primary food source is Louisiana Red, the coloration of the fish must closely match its predatory prey to prevent spooks as the fish forage. The dark coloration will blend the body to the fish surrounding, while the red spots, easily noticed by the Louisiana Red as another of its kind in the distant, simply ignore until it's too late. Such adaptive marvel.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on March 29, 2012 at 8:30am

According to Biologists, tiny crustaceans and insect larvae make up a big portion of the diet of these fish.....It does make you wander about the pigment being related to the food source.....The dominant crawfish species in Louisiana is the "Louisiana Red" and it seems reasonable if these Spotted Sunfish forage on the small ones that it may impact their color......

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on March 26, 2012 at 5:05pm

It sounds possible David....these guys are mixed right in with all the other sunfish in these bayous and those species look similar to fish all over the country.....Some biologists from Louisiana State did a study on these fish and I'm waiting for some information they are going to send me..........I will share when I get it....

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on March 25, 2012 at 4:36pm

I'm wondering if these forage creatures don't account for some of the coloration seen on these fish....

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on March 25, 2012 at 1:13pm

All the above David and they pack in for the grass shrimp hatch as well........tons of snails and insects in the plant life around the salt marsh and cypress bays that these fish love....... 

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on March 25, 2012 at 6:03am

Beauty! Do you know if the little fish eats crustaceans, like crawfish or mollusks, as its normal forage?

Comment by Jim Gronaw on March 24, 2012 at 8:26pm

That's an amazing fish! Let's feature!

Comment by Leo Nguyen on March 24, 2012 at 2:05pm

No wonder they are so aggressive. All they see is red..like the bulls. They are the vampires strains of the gills. LOL

Comment by dick tabbert on March 24, 2012 at 1:25pm

I like the red eyes and the stripping down the sides.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on March 24, 2012 at 1:04pm

These fish are just beautiful!