My 8in (SA?)Lungfish

[y26tan18]

Hi,

first of all I would like to thank all the people who posted their knowledge about this fish here. It has been really helpful reading through the many different post.

Anyway I just bought my very first lungfish, saw it about a month ago, but the storekeeper couldn't Id the fish for me, so I did not buy, until I came across the threads here

Here's mine:

Its about 8inches...just fed it some frozen blood worm and half a prawn.
I notice at times it will suck the sand up and the spew then out from its grills...is that normal ?
Also its a little pale now, as last night the filter pipe got loose and stirred up the sand real good and now the whole tanks murky

Here's a pic of the tank:

Its 4ft by 1.5 ft by 1.5 ft and the only other occupant is a 7in marbled knifefish which I've gotten at the same time as it

If you've got any advise or constructive criticism, please do share, as I wanna grow old with it

 

[Wiggles92]

Your lungfish appears to be a West African lungfish (WAL), Protopterus annectens, rather than a South American lungfish. Based on that ID, I recommend removing the marbled knifefish because these fish have a tendency to injure/kill/eat any and all of their tankmates.

The sand-sucking behavior that you witnessed is perfectly normal. Lungfishes like to dig and will often redecorate their aquarium by moving the substrate around.

As for the aquarium itself, you may want to lower the water level a little bit until the lungfish gets a bit bigger just to be on the safe side; remember that they need to be able to easily access the surface for air, or they will drown. Otherwise, that aquarium is appears to be perfectly suited to housing that particular lungfish for quite some time although it will eventually need at lease a 100 gallon aquarium once it starts to get close to its full-size (36").

 

[y26tan18]

Actually the Marbled Knife fish is the aggressive one right now. It actually chased the lung across the tank when the lung when up for air...I was thinking of putting something else in the tank to distract the Marbled Knife fish...

Also is it okay for me to add small plecos to the tank ? or would they be in danger as well ?
The last time I kept an electric catfish and a sole fish together, the catfish tried to eat the sole fish when I was out...it failed and the sole got stuck in its mouth...both suffocated by the time I got back T_T

 

[Wiggles92]

Actually the Marbled Knife fish is the aggressive one right now. It actually chased the lung across the tank when the lung when up for air...I was thinking of putting something else in the tank to distract the Marbled Knife fish...

Also is it okay for me to add small plecos to the tank ? or would they be in danger as well ?
The last time I kept an electric catfish and a sole fish together, the catfish tried to eat the sole fish when I was out...it failed and the sole got stuck in its mouth...both suffocated by the time I got back T_T

Like I said before, the lungfish will eventually kill the knifefish even if its the one being chased; they have extremely powerful jaws and can make short work of their tankmates even though they seem to be slow and dopey. I wouldn't add plecos because they might suck on the lungfish's slime coat and will end up getting killed by the lungfish sooner or later.

 

[y26tan18]

okay thank you. I'll start looking for another tank to put the marbled knife. I would hate to lose him as he has quite a personality, and cost me as much as the WAL.

 

[xander]

nice WAL. we dont have SAL in singapore as far as i know.

as far as constructive criticism, i agree with whatever wiggles has said thus far.

regarding tank size, would advise a minimum tanksize of 6ftx1.5ftx1.5ft or a 5ftx2ftx1.5ft tank.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Nice WAL. Btw why is your tank so cloudy?

PS : Welcome to MFK! I'm from SG too

 

[y26tan18]

Nice WAL. Btw why is your tank so cloudy?

PS : Welcome to MFK! I'm from SG too

Cheers !

the air pump pipe dropped out...it should clear up by morning

oh and the shop at Kovan has a small roughly 5'' albino lungfish as well, although I don't know how much or what type it is...if anyone is interested that is.

 

[Gggold]

Cheers !

the air pump pipe dropped out...it should clear up by morning

oh and the shop at Kovan has a small roughly 5'' albino lungfish as well, although I don't know how much or what type it is...if anyone is interested that is.[/QUOTE

Is the shop Nsk? Should be going for $680...

 

[Gggold]

Hi, did u get your lung n knife fish at seaview? Hehe