Hello.. I am a research assistant in the ichthyology dept at the American Museum Natural History. We have an aquarium behind the scenes, and we have 2 african lungfish, each in identical tanks. We have had them for years and there have been no problems until now. One lungfish is perfectly normal. The other got a slightly cloudy tank two weeks ago and at the same time began to hide behind a long rock structure in the tank. We changed the filter to a more heavy duty one which helped the water clarity, but upon inspecting the fish there seems to be nothing outwardly wrong. It may have a tiny white stripe near its cheek, and we thought it may be fungus. We have been dosing it with melafix. This is the second (and final) week of dosage. The fish seems to be scared and hides deeper into its crevice when I approach the tank (behavior never observed before two weeks ago) and does not move at all besides this. I have been putting food near it 2x a week and it does eat the food, as the next day it is always gone. The lungfish tank had been slightly cold, so we also put in a new heater.
Last night, I went in to the aquarium late, so the lights had automatically shut off for the day. The fish was swimming around the tank! But as soon as I approached and had my phone light in my hands, it hid again and did not come out save to stick its head near a small squirt of bloodworms i had given it. This is the most I have seen it move in two weeks.
We are concerned about the fish and are hoping the melafix is working, but I'm not sure if it has been moving every night which would mean no significant change. It seems to be light sensitive, and hid completely when I turned lights on.
My boss does not know about this behavior in lungfishes and I am a research assistant doing my best to maintain the aquarium. We are desperate to help it, or at least to know why it may be acting like this. As stated before, no wounds, no color changes, nothing outwardly different about this lungfish.
If anyone can help in ANY way we would seriously appreciate it. We have tried to find experts to no avail and this post is my best attempt at finding help. I don't want it to be miserable, and I don't want it to be euthanized eventually if this behavior is something other than sickness.
Thank you all so much and I hope to hear back soon.
PS. the lungfish is about 2 feet long.
ps. i did realize i just typed in polypterous instead of Protopterus I apologize but if anyone can help please do!
Last night, I went in to the aquarium late, so the lights had automatically shut off for the day. The fish was swimming around the tank! But as soon as I approached and had my phone light in my hands, it hid again and did not come out save to stick its head near a small squirt of bloodworms i had given it. This is the most I have seen it move in two weeks.
We are concerned about the fish and are hoping the melafix is working, but I'm not sure if it has been moving every night which would mean no significant change. It seems to be light sensitive, and hid completely when I turned lights on.
My boss does not know about this behavior in lungfishes and I am a research assistant doing my best to maintain the aquarium. We are desperate to help it, or at least to know why it may be acting like this. As stated before, no wounds, no color changes, nothing outwardly different about this lungfish.
If anyone can help in ANY way we would seriously appreciate it. We have tried to find experts to no avail and this post is my best attempt at finding help. I don't want it to be miserable, and I don't want it to be euthanized eventually if this behavior is something other than sickness.
Thank you all so much and I hope to hear back soon.
PS. the lungfish is about 2 feet long.
ps. i did realize i just typed in polypterous instead of Protopterus I apologize but if anyone can help please do!
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