Lungfish

[Knife_Punch]

So Im at my local pet store the other day, and I came across a lungfish.. Oh man I wanted it sooo bad, but then I realized that although I know a lot about them, I dont really know what kind of tank set up it needs.. Can anyone offer some advice on it?

[beblondie]

The Africans
WAL - West African lungfish (P. annectens)3'
MAL - marbled African lungfish (P. aethiopicus)6'
GAL - gilled African lungfish (P. amphibius)2'
SpAL - spotted African lungfish (P. dolloi)4'


Family Protopteridae
Genus Protopterus
Protopterus aethiopicus - Marbled Lungfish
Protopterus amphibius - East African Lungfish
Protopterus annectens - African Lungfish
Protopterus dolloi - Slender Lungfish
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(P. amphibius)2' gilled African lungfish
freshwater
tropical
Africa: East African coastal regions from Somalia and Kenya, delta of Zambesi River
Found in swamps and flood plains
Uniform blue- or slate grey, with small or inconspicuous black spots, belly pale grey, head dark below with white spots

African Swamp
The waters support a variety of species and vigorous plant growth making it an ideal subject for a biotope aquarium.
Reedy plants line the shores of waterways
WATER:
pH 6.5-7.4
TEMP, 75-85 F
TANK:
The tank should have fine gravel, sand, or clay for a substrate.
Dense vegetation and floating plants help recreate the natural setting.
Use submerged wood to provide hiding places.
The lighting should be bright and the water should be clear.
Species tank
PLANTS:
Bolbitis heudelotii, Ammannia, Marsilea, Eleocharis, Anubias, Nymphaea, Water Lettuce
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Protopterus aethiopicus-marbeled lungfish 6'
PH: 6.5-9.0
dH ;12-20
Temp;75-82F
spawn Nov-Apr
Dark slate-grey above, yellowish-grey or pinkish below; often with numerous dark spots or flecks on the fins and body (some specimens bright yellow ventrally)
Nile; Lakes Albert, Edward, Victoria, Nabugabo, Tanganyika, Kyoga and No
It inhabits river and lake fringes, swamps and floodplains In Lake Victoria it is found in open lake and marginal swamps, in basin only near rivers and deltas.
Lake Tanganyika
PH: 7.8-9.0
dH ;12-20
Temp;75-82F
This lake has 2 easily defined regions the first very rocky with only algae growth as plant life.The second sandy bottom with growths of Vallisneria spirella(use coral sand to buffer the ph at an alkaline level.

African Swamps
Reedy plants line the shores of waterways and shallow pools. Floating grasses and lilies are found where there is little current. Banks along moving waterways drop off quickly, creating cliff-like formations with overhanging roots. Many fish seek refuge under these root overhangs and inside caves.
WATER:
pH 7.2-7.8,
2-8 dH,
70-85 F (21-24 C)
TANK:
The tank should have fine gravel, sand, or clay for a substrate.
Plant grassy vegetation along with rear and corners of the tank. Use dense leafy vegetation in the center of the aquarium and scattered floating plants (if desired).
Use submerged wood to provide hiding places akin to those created by overhanging roots and clay caves in the natural setting.
The lighting should be bright and the water should be clear. Current should be still to moderate depending on whether the aquariast is amining to recreate a still pool or flowing channel.
PLANTS:
African Water Fern, Ammannia, Marsilea, Eleocharis, Anubias, Nymphaea, Water Lettuce
,Potamogeton


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Protopterus dolloi-slender lungfish 4'
pH 6.0-8.0
Temp 72-84F
Brown colored body, with blackish spots on the dorsal and lateral side of the body for juveniles,
but disappearing in adults.The slenderest of the family the caudal joins with the dorsal fin
Ogowe, Kouilou-Niari, lower and Middle Congo River basins , streams lakes and swamps,

African River
West and Central Africa are full of rivers.
pH 6.9-7.2,
3-8 dH,
75-81 F (24-27 C)
TANK:
The tank should be furnished with wood for hiding places, and fine gravel or sand for a substrate.
The lighting should be muted, and the water should have a slight current.
PLANTS:
Bolbitis heudelotii , Anubias, Vallisneria, Eleocharis
spawn june and july

Africn Swamps
Reedy plants line the shores of waterways and shallow pools. Floating grasses and lilies are found where there is little current. Banks along moving waterways drop off quickly, creating cliff-like formations with overhanging roots. Many fish seek refuge under these root overhangs and inside caves.
pH 7.2-7.8,
2-8 dH,
70-85 F (21-24 C)
TANK:
The tank should have fine gravel, sand, or clay for a substrate.
Plant grassy vegetation along with rear and corners of the tank. Use dense leafy vegetation in the center of the aquarium and scattered floating plants (if desired).
Use submerged wood to provide hiding places akin to those created by overhanging roots and clay caves in the natural setting.
The lighting should be bright and the water should be clear. Current should be still to moderate depending on whether the aquariast is amining to recreate a still pool or flowing channel.

PLANTS:
African Water Fern, Ammannia, Marsilea, Eleocharis, Anubias, Nymphaea, Water Lettuce
anubias,Lemma.spp,
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Protopterus annectens-west african lungfish 3'
West African River
Temp: 75° to 85°
ph:6.9-7.4
4° to 6° DH
Dorsal side olive or brown colored, ventral side lighter; great blackish or brownish spots on the body and fins except on the belly
Territory:Senegal, Niger, Gambia, Volta and Chad basins, also in temporary tributaries of Chari River in Western Sudan,Bandama and Comoé basins in Côte d'Ivoire and certain basins of Sierra Leone and Guinea
Found in marginal swamps and backwaters of rivers and lakes
PLANTS:Bolbitis heudelotii , Anubias, Vallisneria, Eleocharis.
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Possible subspecies
Protopterus aethiopicus congicus
Protopterus aethiopicus mesmaekersi
Southern Lungfish (Protopterus annectens brieni)
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Notes:Tanks must have secure lids
these are species only fish (or with fish you don't care about being eaten)
caution when handling they have an incredible bite
Anne

[beblondie]

The South American
Lepidosiren paradoxa
Lepidosireniformes: characterized by having thread-like fins and paired lungs.
Family Lepidosirenidae
Genus Lepidosiren
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Lepidosiren paradoxa - South American Lungfish
Freshwater
Subtropical
Temp.76-82F
pH: 4.5-7.5
dH: 0-12
Size:4'
Description:The young look like tadpoles with four external gills. During the first weeks of their life they breath only through the external gills.Within 2 months the gills begin to disapear
and air breathing begins


Tank:Furnish the tank with bog wood and a dark, fine gravel substrate.
There can be subdued lighting and still water. Ideally, woody material should be the most prominent decoration in the tank.and open swimming areas.
Distribution:Argentina,Bolivia, Brazil,Colombia, Fr Guiana, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela
Enviroment: Prefers stagnant waters where there is little current.
Foods:juveniles eat larval insects.Adults:snails, clams and shrimp,algae and plant matter
Plants: Echinodorus tenellus,E. intermedius Cabomba aquatica or myiophyllum brasiliense,Sword plants, Vallisneria, Heteranthera, Ceratophyllum, Lemma, Limnobium,water lettuce,and lemna


Notes: Same as african except they are reported more tolerant of tankmates

[peanut]

i have a south american lung fish which is in with these fish they dont do much

[catfish]

how fast do lungfish grow

[TaratronVaeVictus]

We have a 15 inch long WAL at work, and while he did not actively devour the live plants in his tank, he did tear the crap out of all the Anubias and hornwort. No more live plants for him!

[solmarshal]

in what class is a reed fish under. i know they need access to air or they will drown? Are lung fish the same way?

[Knife_Punch]

Wow! That tank is really impressive!!!

GOOOOD I WANT AROWANAS SO BAD!! Haha

[beblondie]

Reedfish/ ropefish are members of the Order Polypteriformes(same as polypterus).Yes lungfish need to breathe atmospheric air as opposed to being solely dependent on dissolved oxygen in the water.-Anne

[WckedMidas]

ive got my african lungifish in with bichirs cichlids and a wolf fish
mine seems pretty active neo thought so to when i let him watch the tank on cam
mines calm and docile about 14 to 15 inchs long right now eating pellets beefhart and difrent

[rumblesushi]

I know someone with a 2ft african lungfish. not sure exactly what type, but it's all one colour. Just a dark grey.

It can't be kept with anything. They tried it with an 18 inch pleco and it bit the pleco's head off. It also escaped into the next tank and killed 2 endys.

It's cool fish, I've seen it eat, it comes to the surface to feed.

I want that fish I just have nowhere to put it right now.

[wism_chan]

Learn something today....so much info on the lung fish.....
Thanks to all Bro....

[deD3]

i think its all a guessing game when choosing tankmates. i had mine with a huge pleco about 13-14inches and the next thing i know.pleco's dead. but a small clownknife about 8inches mixed very well with the 2ft bugger