are sunfish a type of cichlid?

[cynthiamae]

I was looking at discus fish one day and I thought to myself that sunfish bore a striking resemblance to these gorgeous fish and that got me wondering if sunfish (blue gills and pumpkin seeds) are a type of cichlid or not. Just a curious question.:FS

[oscarbartoni]

Sunfish (including largemouth and smallmouth bass are not cichlids. The do resemble the cichlids but there are differences like the sunfishes haf two sets of nostrals whereas the cichlids have only one set of nostrals . There are other kifferences but I think that you get the picture. Also the sunfish in general do not live in the same envioroment that the cichlids do except where people have introduced them together or in the case of the Texas cichlid living with native sunfish. :FS

[Saldog6]

i go to small ponds with tiny hooks and catch bluegills about one inch long and put them in my tank....very aggressive fish...

[cynthiamae]

It is highly illegal to keep sunfish in a fish tank.

[Saldog6]

dont worry, the big ones i cut up and eat into fish biscuits.. the little ones i keep as pets..until they grow bigger and worth battering....

[Paidbychrist0825]

like oscar said, it is illegal to keep wild fish as pets, there is the possibility that if you release them, you will introduce new parasites into the wild ecosystem, and that wont be pretty. i HIGHly reccomend to cease this practice, becasue if peta or some other animal rights agency gets ahold of your info, you could be charged with 1. cruelty to animlas. 2 reckless endangerment 3. poaching

PLease note, i dont mean to sound mean, or overbearing. if i did, im sorry.

[cynthiamae]

Like paidbychrist said if agencies such as PETA were to find out, you could be in alot of trouble. I know that where I am from, if the DNR would find out information like this, they would seize everything of yours, including your house, car, and driver's licence. It is also a felony where I am from. Since it is concidered poaching. Very serious business where I am from. Plus introducing new problems to the ecosystem leads to things such as eurasian water milfoil which is very hard, if not impossible to control once it is introduced. I don't mean to sound crass, either. I am not trying to offend, just trying to give some useful info.

[Saldog6]

isnt it funny that u can by baby northern pike and largemouth bass at any fish store.... even channel cats are all over....remember ciclids are wild too down south.... and by the way dnr or any organization can not take away livelyhood such as house and car...only liesure assets and liquid funds are at risk...they cannot throw u out on the street.... sorry i sound cocky..my apologizes....now i have to go eat dinner....maybe ill have some stergen with my bluegill tonight.....

[cynthiamae]

I know a man whose house and car were seized because of this kind of poaching. He has been in prison for about a year because of it, as well. So, how was the sturgeon ?

[Saldog6]

my dad can beat up your dad...lol..all this over a bluegill....very weak my ciclid friends

[Paidbychrist0825]

this thread has come to a bit of a hotpoint. tiimeto end the disscussioon, guys

[Chapy]

I agree but let me put my two cents worth in.

I love this country and all the freedoms we receive, one of which I defend on a daily basis: the freedom of choice, and voice. It seems to me that with all the people dying in the war, this blue gill should not be at the top of our concerns.

Don't get me wrong. I love nature and we are called to be stewards of this beautiful world and we need to preserve it. But I know that for sure there a far worse trageties than a fish out of water. Take human death and neglect for example. I realize as well as the next guy or gal why we have agencies to uphold laws, but let us remember that this is a sight for research and helping and not judging or condeming.

Very Respectfully, Chapy (AKA Korey)

[TheGoldenDojo]

Originally posted by Saldog6
i go to small ponds with tiny hooks and catch bluegills about one inch long and put them in my tank....very aggressive fish...

Waitaminute...

It does not make sense that you can brutally, cruelly, an inhumanely slaughter fish, but you can't give them a luxury life in a large aquarium tailored to their specific needs? Heh! I live in Nazi Germany...

You can keep Bluegills in an aquarium, at least in So Cal.

And remember, folks: Sportfishing in a cruel and evil sport that will gain you a free ticket to a place where you don't want to go!:mad: