Cold Water and Ponds
Banded Pygmy Sunfish
Elassoma zonatum
Photo: Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Temperature10–26 °C
- pH6–7.5
- Minimum tank30 l
- Adult size4 cm
- Difficulty★★★☆☆
- TemperamentPeaceful
- WaterFresh
Full profile
- Family
- Elassomatidae
- Origin
- Southeastern United States
- Size
- 4 cm
- Temperature
- 10 – 26°C
- pH
- 6.0 – 7.5
- GH
- 4 – 12 °dGH
- Difficulty
- ★★★☆☆
- Water type
- cold freshwater – subtropical
- Swimming level
- low – medium
- Behavior
- Pacific
- Minimum number of individuals
- 1 male and 2 females
- Minimum aquarium size
- 30 L
- Diet
- Carnivorous (live brine shrimp, daphnia, grindal); refuses dry food
- Reproduction
- oviparous; lays eggs among fine plants
Notes: A tiny relative of the sunfish, with dark spots on its sides. Ideal for planted nano aquariums without a heater, using only live food.
