1 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Peaceful and easy; do well in cool planted tanks with similar fish.
This one is best kept on its own, or with its own kind.
Peaceful and easy; do well in cool planted tanks with similar fish.
Check your local laws. US: regulated by name in Hawaii and New Jersey, and at genus (Enneacanthus) or family (Centrarchidae) level in Arizona, New Mexico and New Hampshire. Check state rules before buying. Not CITES-listed. Check the rules where you live before you buy one, and never release it into the wild.
Frozen foods, small pellets.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Males have rows of blue or silver spots on dark sides; females are lighter with fewer spots.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Nest spawner · Hard
The male makes a small nest in his territory, on the bottom or among plants, and guards the eggs. Spawning starts around 23°C and needs a cold winter rest (4-10°C) beforehand.
Group in spring.
Cool planted tank.
Spring warming.
Eggs hatch in about 60 hours. Clutch size not found.
Fry take infusoria.
Described by Holbrook in 1855. A coldwater classic of the aquarium hobby, once nicknamed the "working class discus" for its colours.
John Edwards Holbrook described this small sunfish in 1855 as Bryttus gloriosus. It rarely exceeds 8 cm, making it one of the few sunfishes suited to home aquariums. Males show shining blue spots on a dark body.
First described by John Edwards Holbrook in 1855. Named for 'gloriosus' means 'glorious'.
17 facts checked with sources
Described by Holbrook, 1855. Not to be confused with the blackbanded sunfish (E. chaetodon), a separate species found in the same waters.
FishBase: Enneacanthus gloriosus summary · USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), 2023, web version 2025Legacy has no family; value is new.
FishBase: Enneacanthus gloriosus summarysize-pick: aquarium source (Aquarium Glaser) gives up to 7.5 cm and Alabama DCNR 5-7.5 cm adults; FishBase common length 7.0 cm TL, maximum 9.5 cm TL is a wild maximum (USFWS ERSS cites a 99 mm TL record). Legacy 9 cm is near the wild maximum, so 7.5 cm (TL) is used.
Aquarium Glaser (F. Schaefer): Enneacanthus gloriosus · Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin): Bluespotted Sunfish · FishBase: Enneacanthus gloriosus summaryFishBase range comes from Riehl & Baensch Aquarien Atlas (USFWS ERSS notes it is an assumed aquarium temperature). Aquarium Glaser: tolerates up to 26°C for a while but needs a winter rest at 4-10°C to breed. Coldwater fish: no heater.
FishBase: Enneacanthus gloriosus summary · Aquarium Glaser (F. Schaefer): Enneacanthus gloriosusSources conflict: FishBase gives 7.0-7.5 (generic Aquarien Atlas values), while Aquarium Glaser asks for soft, slightly acidic water. No reliable numeric range found; legacy 5-7.5 not confirmed.
FishBase: Enneacanthus gloriosus summary · Aquarium Glaser (F. Schaefer): Enneacanthus gloriosusFishBase 8-12 dH conflicts with Aquarium Glaser’s advice for soft water; left unknown.
FishBase: Enneacanthus gloriosus summary · Aquarium Glaser (F. Schaefer): Enneacanthus gloriosusWild ages (Warren 2009, quoted by USFWS): southern fish rarely past 4, northern fish 5+. Captive lifespan not found; legacy 5-7 years not confirmed.
USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), 2023, web version 2025Legacy says peaceful. Alabama DCNR calls them somewhat hostile; Aquarium Glaser praises their “nice behaviour” but says they are very nervous. Best in a species tank.
Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin): Bluespotted Sunfish · Aquarium Glaser (F. Schaefer): Enneacanthus gloriosusFishBase only says demersal (near the bottom, a default for most freshwater fish); no aquarium source on swimming level.
FishBase: Enneacanthus gloriosus summaryLegacy 2 = moderate. Needs clean soft water, frozen/live food and a cold winter rest.
Aquarium Glaser (F. Schaefer): Enneacanthus gloriosusIntroduced populations in the Finger Lakes (New York), Pennsylvania and Mississippi.
FishBase: Enneacanthus gloriosus summary · USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), 2023, web version 2025USFWS (NatureServe) also calls it a multiple batch spawner.
USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), 2023, web version 2025 · Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin): Bluespotted Sunfish · Aquarium Glaser (F. Schaefer): Enneacanthus gloriosusLegacy "Hundreds of eggs" not confirmed by any source found.
Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin): Bluespotted SunfishLegacy "about" calls it peaceful; Alabama DCNR says somewhat hostile (see temperament).
Aquarium Glaser (F. Schaefer): Enneacanthus gloriosus · Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (Fishes of Alabama and the Mobile Basin): Bluespotted SunfishUSFWS says the list may not be complete. "CITES Not Evaluated" quote is FishBase’s CITES field (heading and value on separate lines).
USFWS Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), 2023, web version 2025 · FishBase: Enneacanthus gloriosus summaryColdwater species.
Aquarium Glaser (F. Schaefer): Enneacanthus gloriosus