View Full Version : South American Lungfish
kentobizmol
11-12-2005, 10:53 PM
i will be getting a 125gallon tank soon but i am struggling, wether to make this 125gallon tank a carnivore mix tank(see signature), or just a single specimen tank.
should i make it the carnivore tank or just put one south american lungfish?
can you guys give me information on south american lungfish?
like housing, feeding, maintenance, decor, water parameters, etc.
do any of you have south american lungfish?
if so, do you know anybody that sells them(online or in the northern CA area)
kentobizmol
11-12-2005, 11:40 PM
can i hand-feed south american lungfish?
They're boring as hell.
If you want a sing specimen show tank, at least get something that's active and eye catching.
kentobizmol
11-12-2005, 11:55 PM
i know that they don't move much, but to me they look awesome!
peanut
11-13-2005, 3:06 AM
hi i have one its hand feed 24 inchs long its best to have a few active fish in with them to add interrest
beblondie
11-13-2005, 3:36 AM
Lepidosiren paradoxa - South American Lungfish
Freshwater
Subtropical
Temp.76-82F
pH: 4.5-7.5
dH: 0-12
Size:4'(smaller in captivity)
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:Tanks must have secure lids
caution when handling they have an incredible bite
they are reported more tolerant of tankmates-Anne
kentobizmol
11-13-2005, 2:13 PM
so i can hand-feed south american lungfish??
and is $30 for a s/a lngfsh a good price?
whats a dh?
is there anything else i need to know??
benzjamin13
11-13-2005, 2:43 PM
My friend hand fed his pinkies once in awhile.
Roy L.
11-13-2005, 4:01 PM
can i hand-feed south american lungfish?
jeah, they love hands...
:ROFL:
beblondie
11-13-2005, 4:06 PM
whats a dh?
I can't tell you its a secret
Roy L.
11-13-2005, 4:25 PM
so i can hand-feed south american lungfish??
and is $30 for a s/a lngfsh a good price?
whats a dh?
is there anything else i need to know??
It's water hardness, usually not so important...
kentobizmol
11-13-2005, 5:58 PM
what's the difference between ph, kh, and dh?
and what do you guys preffer; the carnivore mix or the lungfish(see signature for details)
?????????????????????????????????????????????????
discusfreak2005
11-13-2005, 6:13 PM
ph is the measure of how acidic or alkaline water is.
kh is the temporary hardness, or the amount of minerals that can be removed by boiling or evap in the water
dh is the same as gh, except dh is the german way of measuring hardness and gh is the "american" way
gh or dh is the measure of total hardness, dissolvable and undissolvable minerals or ions or w/e, in the water if im not mistaken
most def the carnivore mix, the af.lung just seems too boring, sorry
I'm no pro, but if you go from -1 Delhezi Bichir 1 Weeksi Bichir 1 Fire Eel 1 Ornate Chaca Chaca Catfish and 1 Barracuda Hujeta to 1 South American Lungfish with nothing else in the 125 gallon your going to be bored. Especially when you could be watching Bichirs. If you want to get a lung fish, just buy a Rubber one, just as active, but you save on money.
They are better when they add to the tank, not if they are the only thing in the tank.
kentobizmol
11-13-2005, 9:33 PM
i wont be bored...
it just depends on each person's personality.
i think the lungfish is beautiful by itself.
here's a picture from ap...
Siemens2
11-13-2005, 9:44 PM
Go with the 1st option for your 125, and forget about the SA lungfish. It might be neat to have, but what's fun about watching something that hardly ever moves. Besides bichirs have a nice color pattern.
For a "non-existing" 125 gallon tank, I would suggest to get a bunch of grow out fish that would live happily, i.e., discus, planted tank with mollies or aussie rainbows. Carnivore tank would limit you to some leaf fish, nandus nandus, and maybe some loaches. 125 tank is a good beginner tank. Be ready to dish out some cash! Now go get some pictures, and then we can go from there. First, GET THE FRIKIN TANK !!!!!
:lol2:
kentobizmol
11-13-2005, 9:59 PM
what do you mean by dish out some cash??
they are only like $200 at glass cages.
clare
11-14-2005, 12:33 PM
If you are getting hujeta check answer on general forum for size,you need to get a group of 3 or more .
MrfisH
11-14-2005, 12:52 PM
Go with the 1st option for your 125, and forget about the SA lungfish. It might be neat to have, but what's fun about watching something that hardly ever moves. Besides bichirs have a nice color pattern.
He already said he doesnt mind if it just sits there, HE likes them. As for the lung fish. They got a 30"er at the lfs for $149, hope that helps some what.
beblondie
11-14-2005, 1:10 PM
''what do you mean by dish out some cash??they are only like $200 at glass cages.''
and how much is the shipping ? thats if they even ship to CA
amazonfishman
11-16-2005, 1:40 AM
the price sounds reasonably I saw one at the lfs for $35 recently, they are kinda questionable to look at imo the black with yellow spots when they are juveniles but the adults are sweet! ~Trent
There's no need to make the South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa) the sole inhabitant of a tank. As Anne mentioned, Lepidosiren are more tolerant of other tankmates than the African lungfish species. In fact, I have a 20" Lepidosiren that coexists peacefully with datnoids, bichirs, an African arowana, and catfish. I have a 14" tigrinus and 12" juruense both w/ intact streamers as proof of that. :)
shekes
11-16-2005, 7:30 AM
I keep with a motoro ray a black aro and considering adding a black knife. I don't think it is boring.
SAL is very easy to handfeed.
LungfishUK
11-23-2005, 9:39 PM
Hi there,
I have a SAL myself and think hes great. He is 24" and lives in a complete community tank with danios, barbs and tetras and doesnt touch any of them. I have the tank fitted out with plenty of bog and ferns with sand as substrate. He'll eat out of my hands all day, munching on earthworms, pieces of fish and carnivore pellets. He is very peaceful and doesn't demolish the tank like my African Lung who is a complete opposite to SAL. The SAL also like to hide alot particularly during the day and spends most of the time in repitile cave at one end of the tank. If you do get one i would agree with what other people have said about having other fish in the tank so it doesn't look quiet so empty.
LungfishUK.
LungfishUK
11-23-2005, 9:42 PM
And as for the price i think $30 is very reasonable. Here in the UK i paid £75 for mine which is probably $130 or so!
shekes
11-23-2005, 10:04 PM
I you sure it is a SAL at all?
Mine is completely black.
DeLgAdO
11-23-2005, 10:10 PM
Hi there,
I have a SAL myself and think hes great. He is 24" and lives in a complete community tank with danios, barbs and tetras and doesnt touch any of them. I have the tank fitted out with plenty of bog and ferns with sand as substrate. He'll eat out of my hands all day, munching on earthworms, pieces of fish and carnivore pellets. He is very peaceful and doesn't demolish the tank like my African Lung who is a complete opposite to SAL. The SAL also like to hide alot particularly during the day and spends most of the time in repitile cave at one end of the tank. If you do get one i would agree with what other people have said about having other fish in the tank so it doesn't look quiet so empty.
LungfishUK.
OMG ITS HUGE!!!!
LungfishUK
11-23-2005, 11:01 PM
Yep hes definatly a SAL, Lepidosiren paradoxa.
guppy
11-23-2005, 11:50 PM
Scale size is a better rough guide than color, big fingernail sized scales=aussie, tiny, almost to small to see scales=african, medium scales=south american, one great big scale=mars.
Charney
11-28-2005, 6:28 PM
I have a SA that is about two feet. I like him a lot, but he really does not do much. If the 125 is your sole tank I would not recomend going with the lungfish. Mine is great , but I can really go a couple days without seeing him. The only reason I know he is still alive is because he is not on the floor and the food is still there. Unlike SAL mine is kind of agressive. I had a large oscar in the tank with him that he would beat on until I removed it. They were the only two fish in the tank.
Garfield
12-11-2005, 10:11 AM
SAL is very awesome fish....heard they eat a lot and **** a lot....but I think you could add some other fishes like gars and tiger shovel nose and also Jurenses....
WckedMidas
12-11-2005, 2:13 PM
the sal is blackish blueish when young and looks like the one posted above when there larger. i curently have a african lung in with orante,lapraide, palmas, 2jags, andamidas .my lung is aprox 17 to 18 inchs long right now and wont even eat a dead fish . yet alone my other fish at this moment. The sal arent as hardy when young and are suceptableto bein picked on by other fish when little. i say go with a african some bichirs and twoort three cichlids.
shekes
12-12-2005, 9:47 AM
Interesting colors. Where and did you catch them?
My SAL is a bit bigger that "LungfishUK"s but is totally black.
He remains relatively still during the day but will swim around and eat if fed, and in the evening he is turning and twisting like a gymnast, taking up most of the 130g for his excercises.
mrkeja
07-07-2006, 10:20 AM
nice
In my opinion lungfish are in no way boring fish. If you can get it at a small size and have it used to having other fish around, you would have a lot of possibilities as for tankmates. And if you are willing to dedicate a tank to one lungfish, an african would be better suited to your needs. I keep my african with other fish and its fine but whether or not you want to even try that is up to you.
tetrapod314
08-22-2006, 11:43 AM
I have three South American Lungs in my large community tank with Clown knives, bichirs and catfish. They're very active and seldom hide. They eat out of my hand every day, let me pet them and even pick them up. They're my favorite fish. The biggest is 28" now and weighs more than my dog (a papillon). My kids love to pet them and feed them. They're easy to keep and easy to feed. They grew from 3" to 28" in a year and a half.
tetrapod314
08-22-2006, 11:47 AM
Oh yes. I had them in a 55 community tank with neons and many other small fish until they were 14". I never lost a single fish.