Normal lungfish growth rate?

[Lokasenna]

Hello all,

I was curious if anyone out there had experience with lungfish from a small size all the way to adulthood. I purchased a 3-4 inch protopterus dolloi about a year ago and now he's roughly a foot long. Is this a fairly typical growth rate?

I ask only because I have only a limited idea of what this little guy is eating. I've offered silversides, chunks of market shrimp and frozen food like blood worms but I've never really seen him eat anything except for the occasional shrimp pellet. Now, granted, the fact that he is pooping and growing indicates that he must be eating something but I'm wondering if his growth rate is normal. Also, are there any suggestions on specific foods that your lungfish "just go crazy for"? I'm just interested in making sure he's getting enough to eat.

Also, he's currently in a 75g tank with about 5 clown loaches and a few mosquito fish. I'm aware that others on this board more knowledgeable than myself have indicated that African species of lungfish hit a "switch point" when they start getting violent, but thusfar he's never showed aggression toward anything save a handful of tadpoles i found and tossed in the tank. Is this attitude turning point associated with larger sizes or can it really come anytime? Do you think the presence of clown loaches may be hindering his ability to get food?

I'm thinking of trying an experimental batch of ghost shrimp tomorrow. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[King-eL]

Wow! For 1 year and you've never seen it eat. Lungfish are normally slow eater.

Mine will take food from my hand or will wait and catch the food if it get close to infront of it's mouth. Will vacuum anything that it like to eat. Massivore pellets, fish fillet, prawns, shrimps, scallops, smelts and any other fishy or meaty foods.

 

[GriF]

when mine was still small I got it to eat with giant canadian nightcrawlers. and a batch of feederfish.

I don't know if it will help but you can try to get him in a tank of it's own...lower the waterlevel so he can reach it without to much trubble dim the lights and reduce the waterflow. (low current). (this worked for me) try to give it some nightcrawlers and snails. I bet it will love the shrimp.. keep us posted.