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Encyclopedia / Goldfish & Coldwater / Pumpkinseed sunfish
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Pumpkinseed sunfish

Lepomis gibbosus · Pumpkinseed, Common sunfish

Semi-aggressive and nesting; can eat small fish.

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20 cmAdult size ✓
4–25 °CTemperature ✓
7–7.5pH ✓
UnknownSmallest tank ?
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Pumpkinseed sunfish eats animals up to about 5 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.
Not recommended
  • Pumpkinseed sunfish eats animals up to about 5 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
  • Pumpkinseed sunfish needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Cardinal tetra is tropical.
Not recommended
  • Pumpkinseed sunfish eats animals up to about 5 cm. Black neon tetra only grows to 3.2 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

127 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓10–15 dGH
Group size ✓2 or more
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ?Moderate
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ✓5–12 years
Size in shops 4–10 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Semi-aggressive and nesting; can eat small fish. Best in a pond or large tank.

Check your local laws. EU: on the list of invasive alien species of Union concern since 2019, so keeping, importing, selling, breeding and releasing it are banned in EU member states. Japan: all Lepomis species are Specified Invasive Alien Species, so keeping and moving them need a permit. USA (example): Minnesota lets anglers aged 16 or under move up to four pumpkinseeds no longer than 10 inches for a home aquarium; otherwise live fish may not be moved from the water where they were caught. US rules vary by state. Check the rules where you live before you buy one, and never release it into the wild.

  • cool

Food

Pellets, insects, frozen foods.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males and females look alike for most of the year; males become more colourful in the breeding season and guard nests.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Nest spawner · Moderate

Males dig round nests about 30 cm wide in shallow water, often in colonies, spawn with one or more females, and guard eggs and fry until the young swim off.

Pairing

Pair in a pond.

Setup

Pond with gravel patches.

What starts it

Spring warming.

Eggs

A female produces about 4,000-7,000 eggs per season, spread over several spawnings and nests; eggs hatch in 3-10 days (3 days at 28 °C).

Raising the fry

Fry take infusoria then brine shrimp.

Common mistakes
  • Invasive release
  • Small tanks
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionEastern North America – Great Lakes and Atlantic slope
Rivers and lakesGreat Lakes, St. Lawrence and Atlantic coastal river systems
HabitatWeedy lakes, ponds and slow rivers
Native rangeAbout 1,500 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the pumpkinseed sunfish

A colourful North American sunfish kept in coldwater tanks and ponds. It is invasive in Europe and its keeping and sale are banned in the EU.

Linnaeus described this sunfish in 1758 as Perca gibbosa. It is one of the most colourful native fishes of North America. It has been introduced to many parts of Europe, where it is now established.

First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Named for 'gibbosus' means 'humped'.

  • Its orange-red ear flap tip helps identify it.
  • Males build and guard nests in shallow water.
  • It can crack snail shells with special throat teeth.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources