Redear sunfish

Lepomis microlophus

Also known as: Shellcracker, Georgia bream, Cherry gill, Chinquapin

Plan a system with Redear sunfish

Quick facts

Adult size: 25 cm, 500 g typical harvest weight
Days to harvest: 365 to 730 days from fingerling
Lifespan (max): up to 7 years
Diet: omnivore
Temperature class: warm-water
Difficulty: beginner

Water parameters

Temperature range: 8–32°C (optimum 27°C)
pH: 6.5 to 8.5
Hardness: 5 to 20 dGH
Minimum tank: 400 L per individual at harvest size

Feed and growth

Feed protein: 36% target
Daily feed (warm water): 2.50% of body weight per day
Daily feed (cool water): 0.70% of body weight per day
Max stocking density: 25 g per litre of system water

A 500g adult eats about 12.5 g of feed per day at optimum temperature. For a roster of 10 fish at adult size, that's around 125 g of feed daily.

Habitat and origin

Native to freshwater lakes, ponds, and slow rivers across the southeastern United States, from Virginia west to Texas and south to Florida. The species (Lepomis microlophus) is called redear for the red or orange margin on the ear flap (opercular tab). Also known as shellcracker because of its specialized pharyngeal teeth that crush snail shells. Adults reach 20–30 cm and 200–500 g, slightly larger than bluegill. Redear are found in deeper, clearer water than bluegill and are less dependent on shallow weedy habitat. The flesh is white, firm, and mild, comparable to bluegill but with slightly larger fillets. Redear sunfish are popular for stocking in recreational fishing ponds and are increasingly of interest for aquaculture.

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate classification: temperate (handles seasonal swings)
Outdoor pond zones (USDA): 5 to 11 (winter low around -29°C or warmer)
Heating in a temperate climate: Not required (handles seasonal cool periods)
Cooling in a temperate climate: Not required

Zone bounds reflect year-round outdoor pond viability with no active heating. Anywhere outside the bounded zone, the species can still be kept in an indoor heated tank or a seasonally-managed system. Verify your specific microclimate, as a sheltered yard zone can run a half-zone warmer than the regional rating.

Care notes

A panfish option for warm-temperate aquaponics with the unique advantage of snail predation. The specialized crushing pharyngeal teeth make redear effective at controlling pest snail populations in aquaponics systems where snails have colonized the grow beds, plumbing, or fish tanks. Optimal temperature is 22–28°C, with tolerance from 5–32°C. Growth: 200–400 g in 12-18 months on commercial sunfish or catfish pellet (32-38% protein). FCR is approximately 1.8-2.5, comparable to bluegill. Stocking density: 10-20 g/L. Redear are less aggressive than bluegill, which means less fin damage and stress at moderate stocking densities. They also grow slightly larger on average than bluegill, producing better individual fillet yield per fish. Fingerlings are available from fish hatcheries and farm supply stores across the southeastern US, typically sold alongside bluegill and channel catfish for pond stocking. Legal in most states within the native range without special permits. Water quality: DO above 4 mg/L, ammonia below 1 mg/L, pH 6.5-8.5. Redear are slightly less cold-tolerant than bluegill and grow noticeably slower in cool water below 20°C, which makes them better suited to warm-temperate and subtropical systems rather than northern tier states. For aquaponics operators in the southeastern US who want a native panfish with good eating quality and the added benefit of biological snail control, redear are a strong choice.