The non-eating African Lungfish

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Jeanne

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 28, 2006
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New Jersey
I have an African Lungfish approximately 5-6 years old. She (although I don't know for sure) is in a 90 gal tank. She is approximately a little over 3 ft long. Her color is good, and my tank is clean. Her normal diet is feeder fish (small goldfish) and sometime dried pellets. She has only eaten 1 feeder fish in 3 weeks, and that was over 2 weeks ago. She is not eating the dried pellets either. Is this a phase she may be going through, or should I be worried about something. I have found that lungfish are very hardy fish, and can tolerate quite a bit. And believe me I have had many problems with the tank and it's cycles. Some of the problems have killed her tankmates. NO, she didn't, the highs and lows of the cycles did them in. I know they are pretty lazy and not very active, especially during the day, but she just seems listless. She has a favorite spot in the tank, and that is where she pretty much stays...even at night. And as I said, she has no appetite.

This site seems to have some very knowledgable members, that know about lungfish. Can someone please help me out. If not eating for a few weeks in normal, that is wonderful, but I would like to know, and not have to worry about her. Should I try some other type of food? Any recommendations??

Thanks,

Jeanne and her "Lady"
 
I would try live crawfish, fresh shrimp, or frozen krill, or silversides. I had a lungfish for 10 years or so, and occasionally Spike would simply not eat for months at a time- I never really worried- I put feeder goldfish in there, and they'd be in the tank for 3-4 months, and then one day, gone.

If all of your water quality is good, and the fish is not exhibiting signs of disease, that would be my take.
 
Thanks starrfish, I will try the crawfish and maybe the fresh shrimp and see what happens. She has never seemed to like the frozen stuff, I've tried that before.
Water quality is good, and she isn't exhibiting any signs of illness, just her normal laziness! I used to give my daughter the one "uncatchable/edible" feeder fish that would last more than 2 weeks! But I can't give her 8 of them!! Everyone has their limits!!
Thanks again,
Jeanne
 
I've had lungs go months with out food as well. I just keep an eye on weight and do large water changes and offer odd tidbits from time to time. My large annectens is about the size of yours and since i've moved to a smaller a apartment with my GF he's been in a rubbermaid stock tank and hasnt had the appetite that he used to. He used to hammer four thawed frozen shrimp three times a week. Now if he eats that in a month he's doing well.

Now that summers here i may set up a 600 stock tank outside for him and see if some green water and space brings out some spunk. I love lungfish they are truely the hardiest fish i've ever worked with.

I rarely if ever use any form of feed fish with mine and especially no goldfish, he's had a few when we were testing him for tank mate suitability and he ate them all. If he gets fish now they are bait minnows destined for him or another pred to eat.

I hope she starts eating for you soon, i wonder how much of this might be a maturity thing, now that they have some size i wonder if its just a seasonal thing.

Take care

Jason
 
If it happened to me I would try some giant night crawlers. Easy for the fish to catch and they are triggered to eat by the night crawlers movements.
When I first got my lung I got him to eat within 2 hours after putting him in the tank.
 
She is still not eating on a regular basis:( , and I have tried just about all your ideas. Night crawlers are my last resort. She seems healthy, not very active even for a lungfish. Perhaps it could be a maturity thing, or a seasonal thing. But it has been going on for quite a while.

I have now noticed 3 "spots" on her "skin" 2 are about 1/4 inch in diameter and the third one is larger. I haven't any idea what they could be or what has caused them. They are light in color, but not white. Could they be bruises? They don't seem to be bothering her, but she doesn't talk much:lol3: Any help as to what these might be or what I can do to get rid of them?

She is in a 90 gal tank all by herself. Water levels are good.

Thanks,
Jeanne
 
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