African Lungfish

 

fish description – West African Lungfish Care Guide ($Protopterus\ annectens$)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Protopterus\ annectens$
Common Name	West African Lungfish, African Lungfish
Origin	Rivers, swamps, and floodplains across West and Central Africa
Adult Size	30–39 inches (75–100 cm)
Temperament	Extremely Predatory, Highly Aggressive, Solitary
Lifespan	10–20+ years (can live for years aestivating without water)
Care Level	Expert (Due to size, aggression, and air-breathing requirements)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A large, elongated, eel-like body with soft scales, covered in brownish spots or blotches. It uses its long, filamentous pectoral and pelvic fins as limbs to crawl along the substrate. It has a prominent snout and requires a continuous air gap at the surface.
• Coloration: Olive or brown dorsally, lighter ventrally, with dark blackish or brownish spots. Sexing is impossible by visual means; only observable during breeding, when males guard the nest/burrow.
• Fins: Paired pelvic and pectoral fins are long and thin, resembling whips or threads. Adults have functional lungs and reduced gills, making them obligate air breathers.
• Behavior: Sluggish and retiring during the day. Highly predatory and aggressive toward anything that might fit in its mouth. They are expert escape artists and capable of biting severely.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 300 gallons (1135 liters) is the absolute minimum for a single adult. Custom-built tanks of 8 feet in length or more are highly recommended.
• Schooling: Must be kept solitary in a species-only tank. They are highly intolerant and aggressive toward their own kind and most other fish.
• Temperature: Tropical range: $75^\circ$–$86^\circ\text{F}\ (24^\circ$–$30^\circ\mathrm{C})$.
• pH Level: Highly adaptable: 6.0 to 8.0. They are tolerant of low water quality due to their air-breathing, but pristine water is required for long-term health. Filtration should be robust (sump system recommended), but water movement must be minimal to mimic their swamp habitat.
• Aquascape: Requires a soft sand or fine mud substrate for burrowing (at least 3–6 inches deep). Decor should be heavy, secure driftwood and smooth rocks providing large hiding spots. A secure, weighted lid is mandatory, leaving a 6-inch gap between the water surface and the lid for breathing. Dim lighting is preferred.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The African Lungfish is a dedicated carnivore and generalist predator.

• Staple Diet: Should be fed a high-protein diet of fresh or frozen meaty foods. Examples include chopped fish fillet, prawns, mussels, earthworms, and occasional frogs.
• Supplementation: High-quality sinking carnivore pellets can be offered but may be refused. Avoid mammalian meat (beef heart) due to indigestible fats.
• Schedule: Juveniles should be fed daily; large adults only need feeding 1–2 times per week due to their slow metabolism. Feed with tongs to avoid injury.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Extremely aggressive and will eat or seriously injure any fish that it can subdue. Their bite can be dangerous.
• Good Tank Mates: None are safe in a home aquarium. If tank mates are housed, they must be massive, robust, and occupy a very different niche, such as Large Arowanas (with extreme caution), or very large Bichirs (e.g., P. endlicheri). The safest environment is a species-only tank.