african lungfish - plants & tetras

[gplachy]

I need some quick answers from lungfish owners:

I have had a lungfish for about 8 years. He is an African grey lungfish and very large.

I want to put plants in his tank, because the tank is just open with him and maybe he would like some plants. Do any of your have plants in your african lungfish tanks? Do they eat the gravel? I took my gravel out a long time ago because I swear he was eating the gravel everytime I fed him. Do you think I could put gravel and plants in now?

Also, do you think neon tetras would pick on him? Just because they are small doesn't mean they won't pick on his skin - what do you think? A long time ago a lfs woman said not to feed my lungfish live food; fish or shrimp because the fish/shrimp would pick on him.

I would love to turn my tank into a plant, lungfish, neon tetra tank. Am just worried about my lungfish - thr neon tetras are not a worry to me - if they get eaten, well, I'll know I shouldn't have put them in there and will never again.
Help asap because I am in the purchasing mood!

 

[abarilot]

I would say put the gravel and plants in! I've never own an african species but my SAL loves to explore around his pieces of drift wood. Plus there are tons of pics in the media forum that have african lungfish with plants, decorations, and gravel/sand.

As for neon tetras I think they'd be ok. I wouldnt think they'd pick at him but ive never done the combo. Your lung might not eat them too cuz they might be too small and too much of a waste his of time. There is a guy who keeps a huge arowana with neon or cardinals and hasnt loss any! But the easy way to find out is to do the mix and monitor the situation and if the neons attack (which they shouldnt) then remove them.

Btw I'm always in the buying mood!!! If I was loaded my house would most likely be a huge fish tank and I'd have to scuba dive just to get around!

 

[Neophyte]

I have had neons with several fish no where near the size of a lungfish and they never bothered anyone.

Even if there was a huge swarm of them in some sort of sci-fi frenzy attack I doubt the lungfish would even notice.

 

[GriF]

maybe get some floating plants in there.

instead of regular plants,
I think your fish will destroy the whole setup.
Once I had some small platy's with my lungfish, and he ate all 30 of them in 2 days.
(this was when it was +/- 40 inch).
But i think it depents on the fish itself if you could pull this off or not.
They all have their own personallity.

 

[gplachy]

Well, so far he is really happy. He is actually a super smart fish, though I've heard LFS people say they are dumb and almost blind - not mine.

I put black gravel in to show off his gray body more. The back of the tank is colored black. I have plants coming in tomorrow. I bought 30 tetras and they seem to find him too interesting - watching them. He has never moved so much in his life - I should have thought of this years ago. Will try to get good pic and post them cuz he is so happy and I think he wants to show off his new look! Oh, also, believe it or not, getting albino cory cats - got my okay from my fish expert. We'll see. He is not very fast - he is too fat and the corys run around all the time. Don't get all upset - deal is already done.

 

[gplachy]

I would say put the gravel and plants in! I've never own an african species but my SAL loves to explore around his pieces of drift wood. Plus there are tons of pics in the media forum that have african lungfish with plants, decorations, and gravel/sand.

As for neon tetras I think they'd be ok. I wouldnt think they'd pick at him but ive never done the combo. Your lung might not eat them too cuz they might be too small and too much of a waste his of time. There is a guy who keeps a huge arowana with neon or cardinals and hasnt loss any! But the easy way to find out is to do the mix and monitor the situation and if the neons attack (which they shouldnt) then remove them.

Btw I'm always in the buying mood!!! If I was loaded my house would most likely be a huge fish tank and I'd have to scuba dive just to get around!

So the tetras are amazing looking. They swam around and were beautiful, playing with the lungfish until I noticed a few picking at the slime coat of my poor lungfish! Neon Tetras are EVIL!!!

All 30 of these tiny little bugs are in a large pale with air stone - won't trust them in my other tank - they are neon tetra terror piranas. Bringing them back tomorrow am!

They looked so cool! Watch out for those little devils!!!! Don't put them with poor defenseless giants who can't move quickly enough to defend themselves.

I'm still gonna try the corys - hopefully it won't be another sneak attack.