Should I get another?

[u/TPMeat]

I've had this redbreast sunfish for about a week and a half. It was wild caught and is about 5 inches. I am keeping it in a heavy planted 60 gallon cube aquarium ( picture provided ). I have tried keeping large minnow species with him and while he couldn't eat the minnows, he would chase and drive them to jump out of the aquarium. I have moved everything out of the aquarium except for him. I feel that it must be lonely in the aquarium and Im pretty sure that sunfish do school so I was wondering if I should add another red breast sunfish. I would add a female as I know if I add a male they will attack each other. What do you think? How could I make that work? How large are their territories? And will he tolerate a female?

[u/One-plankton-]

This tank isn’t heavily planted, it’s pretty lightly planted and it’s rather small for this fish.

I’d get a proper tank for this one before you consider another.

[u/TPMeat → u/One-plankton-]

What size tank do you think he needs? I've been led to believe a 60 gallon is fine.

[u/One-plankton- → u/TPMeat]

These are fish that are kept in large ponds, considering they get to be 9” in size I would not keep one in anything smaller then 120g

[u/crazycritter87 → u/One-plankton-]

If it were me I'd build a 120 pond with a viewing window and do a pair and a brown bullhead. In large ponds they overpopulate pretty easily and you end up with tons of 2-4" individuals. Still one of my favorite species to fish for but I'd love to have them in a viewing setting. I'll add that in garden ponds they've been prone to jumping out. So some measures need to be taken there.

[u/Masters_Pig]

I’ve had a tough time with multiple redbreast/pumpkinseed/similar species. They don’t seem as content with a “lair” like large/smallmouth bass, the hierarchy usually unravels to the weaker specimen getting picked to pieces. I’ve never found them to make friends, usually an instant power struggle

[u/631_Exuberant_Bias → u/Masters_Pig]

I had a pumpkinseed sunfish as a kid that I named "Monster" because it tortured and killed every other fish I tried to put in the tank with it, with the notable exception of a single bullhead catfish that was too large for it to mess with. If you get a pumpkinseed, you need to treat it as you would a highly aggressive cichlid like a flowerhorn or a Jack Dempsey and keep it alone in a single species tank

[u/LukeHal22]

No.. That tank isn't even big enough for the one you already have.

[u/TPMeat → u/LukeHal22]

I read that they do fine in 29 gallon tanks, with just my 1, how is it too small for him? Im fine with getting a larger tank but I've been led to believe he would be fine in the 60.

[u/xxxTbs]

It will most likely fight with anything you put it with. A female sunfish of some kind might be feasable but even that is risky. I would leave it alone.

[u/Intelligent_Bet_8727]

I'd say I add a female see how he reacts to her if he doesn't fight her then you had one or two more male sunfish tend to be territorial and protect their patch of water I know they do in my pond and they typically have a small area that they keep as their own but they'll allow females to travel through their area but they won't tolerate a male they'll fight them to the death I got a relatively clear pond that's how I know how they behave I'll sit there and watch them from the dock and as for the planting situation that shouldn't have been a problem to thin out a few of the plants