Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Sunfish-Including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Sunfish ID

Hey all! I was just trying to see what the "Braintrust" thought this young sunfish could be? History: Working on stocking a new pond that was filled with a well. Recently bought some RES that "might have up to 10% CNBG". Is there a way to tell CNBG from regular BG at this age?

I have a hard time, but that's because I don't have as near as much experience looking at CNBG as I do regular BG.

I guess it could be a CNBG maybe in muddier water ?
Attached is a CNBG about the same size, markings and shape look similar but coloring is much less pronounced
I’m still new to this but younger CNBG usually have very pronounced lateral stripping to them

Thanks for the image Jason. The water isn't muddy. In fact, it looks a lot like yours from what I can see from the background in your pic.

Not sure if this helps.....

Native BG from earlier this spring.

Looks like a juvenal CNBG or a BG X CNBG. Copper bar (scales) above eye.

https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=286755&page=1


Coppernose bluegill have been around for a long time. They are only one of three recognized subspecies of bluegill (lepomis macrochirus). Coppernose (lepomis macrochirus purpurescens) is native to Peninsular of Florida. Coppernose bluegill have 12 soft rays on their anal fin as opposed to 11 soft rays found on the regular bluegill. Coppernose have fewer but wider vertical bars on their sides than do regular (common or native ) bluegill. Coppernose also have orange margins to their fins. Male coppernose has a broad copper band above the eye or forehead and are prominent during spawning season. Reproduction of the Coppernose is about the same as with most all bluegill.

Thanks, Eric. The copper color above the eye is what I thought may be a helpful clue. I knew there was something about the difference of rays on their fins, but thought it was on the dorsal and not anal fin. I wished that I'd have gotten a better pic of the anal fin. Alas, thank you for the info and your opinion!

I'm not sure there are many "pure strain" of either anymore, at least where strain cross over and overlap.
Look at the tail fin of Jason D's pic-white fine line border = CNBG. Personally, I've never seen a coppernose that didn't have this( I'm sure I'll be proven wrong at some point) :-)). Also notice the dark patch in the lower part of aft dorsal.. My BGxRES don't have this.

I almost called you a while back and ask about the white boarder, they all have this and I thought it was some sort of Bacteria, with that being said, I just noticed all my fish are so much darker than any fish I have ever seen posted, they must all have suntans 😂
Here is another CNBG from a few weeks back

Lots here on coloration changes and how that works. Pic is classic CNBG.

I have seen some CNBG with no white fin coloration but with red coloration on the fins ( for example Bob Lusk's CNBG at Lusk Lodge ll). Adaptation between different local populations is common. See thread of differences between Fla CNBG and Ark CNBG which were moved to Ark many years ago for brood fish by hatcheries.

Fla CNBG vs Ark CNBG
https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=177215&page=1

That is a pattern I have not seen Eric, thanks for the pic.
It's pretty cool to see how location and environment produce differing patterns.

Lots of coloration on these. Blue is prominent and strips are subtle.



https://i.ibb.co/bJ43Wbt/IMG-5253.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/ZKqz46Q/IMG-5260.jpg

Great pic, Tbar.

That is a "mother of pearl" BG!

https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=9335&Number=97737#Post97737







Same fish below – top just out of water , below 3 seconds later after it flipped. Color changes quickly