All fish / Centrarchidae

Blackbanded Sunfish

Enneacanthus chaetodon

Also known as black banded sunfish, black-banded sunfish, blackbanded sunfish, chaetodon sunfish, ブラックバンデッドサンフィッシュ, 黑带太阳鱼

A small, deep-bodied sunfish that is silvery with six bold black vertical bars, and the front of the pelvic fin is bright orange. Keepers of native and biotope tanks like it for its striking pattern and calm nature, and it suits a heavily planted, soft and acidic set-up.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

10 to 26 °C

pH

4.5 to 7

Smallest tank

75 litres

Keep as

Group of 4 to 6 in a species tank

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp and small insect larvae; often refuses dry food

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Eastern USA: Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain from New Jersey to Florida

Breeding

Males dig a shallow nest in the substrate or among plants and guard the eggs and fry after spawning. It breeds in captivity when given a cool winter rest and soft acidic water, but the tiny fry need very small live foods at first.

Good to know

Needs soft, acidic water and a cool winter period, and does badly with boisterous or fin-nipping tankmates. Collecting or keeping it is restricted in some US states where it is protected, so check local rules.