green sunfish 4 web

Comment

Comment by Jim Gronaw on May 30, 2009 at 5:08am

Hey Chris...cool that you are on board here! I have checked your site out and it is indeed top-notch!

This sunfish 4 photo is what appears to be a bluegill/greenie hybred that is showing characteristics of a male bluegill...that is, a helmet like shape on the forehead, larger and broader gillflap and a darker, copper-colored breast that is most apparent during spawning times. I have been catching bg/gs hybreds at a local pond for a few years now and like you said, they seem to have slightly different appearances per individual fish. Some exhibit male characteristics and some look more like females...smaller gillflap, lighter on the belly and a bulging stomach that could indicate eggs.

Check out the photos on my page here and you will see my wife linda with two big ones nearing 12 in...one looks like a male and the other looks like a female.

Bruce may be able to answer your question about the reproductive possibilities of these hybrids...perhaps some environments and conditions may favor natural crosses of these two sunfish species. Good luck! Jim

Comment by IceWarriorGill on May 29, 2009 at 9:34pm

Just gotta luv all those colors---Beautiful fish!!!! It would be so neat to have a Freshwater Aquarium and have some of those Hybrids in it (fantastic coloration on them)!!!! Way to go and congrats on a Gorgeous Fish!!!