The Central Longear (Lepomis Megalotis)
                    As An Aquarium Species
                             By
                         Robert Rice
                    2213 Prytania Circle
                    Navarre Florida 32566
                       1-904-936-9261
      With  the increased interest in Natives over the  past decade  a  great 
 many  of  our  native  species  are  being rediscovered as an aquarium 
species.
     Not since the 1920's have so many people inquired about and  begun 
keeping natives. The writings of people like John Quinn  ( A Netfull of 
Natives) and Larry Page   (  Petersons Field  Guide to North American Fresh 
Water Fish  )  and  the many  excellent State books have helped to get out 
the  word and people are listening !
      Many  an  avid  aquarist, who is unfamiliar  with  our natives  is  
surprised to learn that our own humble  Natives have intense color, 
interesting temperament and a variety of body  types that surpasses many 
tropicals. When you  combine these  with  their ease of care natives are a 
class of  fish every aquarist should consider.
      Not  surprisingly the sunfishes are usually the  first Native  fish  
people  keep. The sheer number  and  types  of sunfish make them an excellent 
first native. They are easily collected  with  hook and line or dipnet or 
seine.  Not  all states allow netting of Sunfish so check out your local laws 
for the who's and what's of your area.
       As  a  rule they are very durable, tolerant  of  most anything and 
tough as nails. In temperament they are usually one  or  two  notches  below 
an Oscar  (Aggressive  but  not completely  intolerant of other fish). They 
range  from  the gentle  Black  Banded Sunfish (Ennecthaseus Chatedon)  whose 
graceful  fins,  angel  like coloring,  slow  movements  and delicate 
temperament are a hit with the Discus crowd. To the positively  brutal Green 
Sunfish (Lepomis  Cyanellus)  whose large mouth and pugnacious attitude make 
the Oscar lover  in us all smile!
      The  Central Longear is in my opinion the best sunfish for   the  
novice  to  keep.  It's  combination  of   color,manageable   size  (under  6 
 inches  in  most  cases)   and personable  mid  range temperament make it 
the  ideal  first fish  for the aquarist new to native fish. Its overall  
body shape  varies from region to region and sub species  to  sub species.  
It  can go from long and angular to   rounded  and slightly reminiscent of 
the Discus shape. However it is  its life  colors,   that  make  this  fish   
nothing  short   of spectacular and the must see of the Sunfish family.
      Here is how Bill Plieger describes them in his "Fishes of Missouri" pg. 
268.
       "Life Colors: Back and sides blue-green speckled with yellow  and 
emerald; belly yellow and orange. Side  of  head olive or light orange with 
emerald-blue vermiculations.  ear flap  black, often with a narrow white 
border. Fins  without prominent spots or blotches. Breeding males have all  
colors more  intense, with the under surface of the head and  belly bright 
orange-red."
      With that definition you can see why I am confident to place  them  in  
any  aquarium contest  in  any   freshwater category.
     When finally in the aquarium Longear's quickly adapt to captivity  and 
will take in a variety of foods.  I  do  mean VARIETY, I have seen them fed 
everything from flake food  to cat chow, including all the standard frozen 
and live foods.
      They are a natural for those who keep garden ponds and don't  want to 
keep Koi or any of the more standard  species of  pond  fish. They will 
thrive in an outdoor pond and  can often  be  over wintered with no ill 
effects. They  will  of course  spawn  in such an environment and  are  a  
very  low maintenance fish. They  thrive on insects that fall  in  the water 
and mosquito larvae.
      I  have  even known people who have kept ponds outside near  a bug 
zapper. Their Longears have thrived on the  near misses and half shocked 
insects! Now that's an easy to  care for fish!
           If  you are interested in aquarium breeding  this fascinating  
sunfish it's a snap. They behave in  a  similar fashion to many tropicals in 
that the male will make a  nest attract a female and spawn on the site. He 
will then  remain on  site  guarding the eggs and fry until they  become  
free swimming.
      The  Longear Sunfish's must be excellent parents.  One several 
occasions while observing nesting sites. I have seen various  types of 
darters and shiners  rushing in  when  the male  Longear is distracted and 
laying their own  clutch  of eggs  beside those of the Longear. The eggs are  
then  cared for  by the Longear male along with his own. He is of course none 
 the  wiser and the survival rate of the other  species shoots up 
dramatically.
    In the laboratory with the proper diet, a temperature of 77  F., and an 
extended photo period they have spawned every 10-14  days for over a year! 
Now that is prolific, of course in the wild those conditions are usually only 
met a few days or   weeks  out  of  the  year.  So  therefore  the  natural 
reproduction rate is much lower.
     Here's What Dr. George Becker in his classic state book "Fishes  of  
Wisconsin  page 839" says  about   the  Longear sunfish.
     "The  Longear sunfish adjusts well to captivity. It  is not  susceptible 
 to  injury from  handling  is  not  unduly aggressive and appears to be a 
promising species for use  as a  laboratory test fish (Ward and Irwin 1961,   
W.E..  Smith 1975).  In  the laboratory, W.E,.Smith was able to  get  the 
species to spawn, to raise the young to maturity in 22 weeks (males  10-12 
cm, females 7-9 cm.) and to produce successive generations under conditions 
of long photoperiod and a water temperature  of 25 degrees C (77F). The 
adults continued  to spawn with regularity every 6-10 days for 14 months."
      With  that information even an inexperienced  aquarist has a good shot 
at  successfully spawning  these gems.
      I  have  found  that the Longears  from  Missouri  and Arkansas  are 
the most colorful and make the best  stock  to start  from.  However You may 
find a different local  strain that catches your eye with just the right 
color and size mix for you. If so, go for it. That is one of the great  joys 
of collecting  is finding that local strain that  catches  your eye. Let me 
know what you find!
      One  of the nicer things about the Central Longear  is its  abundance  
and  extensive range. If  you  live  in  the eastern third of this country 
from Canada to Florida you are in  Longear country! So collection of suitable 
specimens  is not  terribly  difficult. They are easy to  collect  from  a 
suitable  sight with seine, hook and worm or dry  fly.  When you  get  one  
they are easy to identify. Their unmistakable ear  flap  is  up to 1/3 or 
their body  length in  size  and black  as tar. I strongly recommend taking 
individuals under 4 inches as at that size they seem to adapt best to 
domestic life.
           If  you  like  the Cichlid family I promise  you,you'll  love the 
Central Longear. With his twisting  palette of  colors   he  is  as Colorful 
as any Cichlid  and  is  as personable as a fish can get .They are as easy to 
 care  for as  any  fish I've ever kept. Why once I left some  in  a  5 
gallon  bucket after a collecting trip for over a week  only to find a male 
guarding a fresh batch of eggs! Mine commonly eat out of my hand and will 
allow me to pick them up with my hand! So if you thinking about going Native 
I have just  the fish for you.
      If  you are interested in keeping Native fish  in  the aquarium I 
recommend you start with your local Department of Natural  Resources or your 
local North American Native  Fish Association  regional  chairperson (I  am  
one).  I  can  be reached at 2213 Prytania Circle Navarre Florida 32566 if 
you need further information.
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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