Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So, I went out with my cast net and nabbed a few fish for my system. I hope to make these guys my broodstock. I've got 5 sunfish from the local river... they're still very young (1"-2") and I can't tell if they're bluegill or green sunfish. either way is great because I really want a male bluegill and some female sunfish to create a bluegill/green sunfish hybrid which come out 90% male.

Well, sunfish supposidly eat anything. I've had them in my 300 gallon tank for 3 days now, I've tossed in some black soldier fly larvae (maybe a little big for them), some floating pond fish pellets (happened to have it on hand...), some crushed pond fish pellets (in case the pellets where to big, and to make them sink) and a few red wigglers.

I haven't seen them touch any of the food except the red wigglers and they didn't even seem to eat 2 of the 3 i threw in there. Maybe they are eating when I'm not looking, because when I'm looking those fish freeze, seriously, they barely move when I'm around... suppose they're trying to be sneaky.

These guys are 1"-2" long so the pellets shouldn't be that big for them, but they just don't come to the surface to take the food. Do you think they're still adjusting to the tank? Will they 'warm' up to it and not be so skittish? any advice would be nice.

As wild fish, I'm sure they are a little spooked by the sudden change in their surroundings. They probably also don't recognize manufactured food. Perhaps if you added a "Trainer" fish. Do you have any similar sized fish that understand what pellets are? Maybe a pet goldfish? Put them in there and let the sunfish hang out for a while with it. When you feed the fish, put a little more than the goldie can handle right away. Hopefully, the sunfish will see the goldie eating, and pick a clue from that.

once they get hungry enough, they'll get interested. But don't leave a lot of food in there to rot.

our wild perch and rainbows worked it out after a few days

Yep starve them for a while. Keep an eye on ammonia/nitrite levels while fish are not eating...
the other suggestion of adding a goldy or platy or something to trigger them feeding is a good idea too.