Anyone Know Anything About Lungfish?

[GobyMaster]

Hey everyone, I just got back from my LFS (with a few fish, of course), and while I was there, I saw an African Lungfish (now whether that's the true name of it or not, I'm not sure), and it was really awesome.

It was about a foot long, and was a dull grayish-brown color. I'm sorry if this doesn't help in the identification of the species.

It was a gorgeous oddball, but I don't know that much about it. I'm interested in it, but it was expensive for my price range ($90), and I'm pretty sure I don't have a single tank that will be big enough for it when it's fully grown. Anyone know anything about them?

Thanks in advance,
GobyMaster

 

[beblondie]

What would you like to know below are the species of African lungfishes
The African lungfishes
Family Protopteridae
Genus Protopterus
Protopterus aethiopicus - Marbled Lungfish 6'
Protopterus amphibius - East African Lungfish 2"
Protopterus annectens - African Lungfish 3'
Protopterus dolloi - Slender Lungfish 4'
subspecies
subspecies=Protopterus aethiopicus congicus 6'
subspecies=Protopterus aethiopicus mesmaekersi 6'

sizes above are maximum sizes of wild caught specimens they are often smaller in captivity

lungfhis natural history and evolution
The Dipnoi are a subclass of sarcopterygiian fish, are are commonly known as the lungfish.They are orginaly believed to have evolved in marine enviroments during the devonian period(400 mya).These
early lungfish consisted of as many as 10 families,50 genera and some 100 species according to fossil records.
These early lungfish looked quite differnet than todays remaining species.Early lungfish had dual dorsal fins,fleshy paired fins,and showed no teeth on the jaw bones but instead had teeth fused to heavy tooth plates used for crushing prey.
Later as they moved into freshwater enviroments many changes occured the first dorsal fin dissapeared and the remaining dorsal fused with the cadual and anal fin forming a symetrical tail and some bones were replaced with cartillage.
During the Carboniferous period(290mya) many of the lungfish species dissapear and are known only from Fossilis.Lungfish burrows of Gnathorhiza have been found in rocks as old as the Permian, with the lungfish still inside, and older (empty) burrows are known from the Carboniferous and Devonian. The oldest fossil dipnoan is Diabolichthyes, from the Lower Devonian of Yunnan, China. It is not clear whether this particular fish was marine or lived in freshwater like modern lungfish, but both marine and freshwater fossils of other groups are known.This indicates estavation occured as early as the Devonian period.
Fossil records show that Ceratodontidae(Austrailian)family appeared during the Triassic period (245mya)and were widespread by the Mezzoic period (65 mya)with fossil remains being found on all continents.Some species being as large as 16ft in length and weighing as much as 200 pluslbs.
The "modern"genus neoceratodus of the Austrailian lungfish arose in the early Cretaceous period (145mya)orginaly consisted of 7 species of which only 1 Neoceratodus forsteri exsists today and is now confined to a small section of southern Queensland in slow moving portions of the Burnett and Mary river systems.
The Lepidosirenid lungfish of Africa and South America can be dated back to the Carboniferous period (290mya)the existing members of the genera did not appear until the Eocene period(54mya) and the Miocene period(23mya)on the same continents where they occur today.
Aestivation
All memebers of the family Protopteridae and Lepidosirenidae are capable of aestivation the Ausrailian lungfish considered the most primitive
of the lungfishes cannot.
Many lungfihes that live in aestival ponds( ponds existing only in the wet seasons) in order to survive go thru aestivation(dormancy during the
dry season).As the temperatures rise and the water levels receed the lungfish burrows down into the muddy bottom from several inches to several
feet depending on thier size then bends its body into a U shape so its head and tail are at the top of the opening.They then secrete a mucous
coating surrounding themselves leaving a small opening as an air passage.During this time the metabolic rate slows.The mucous "cocoon" hardens
preventing them from drying out (they are capable of staying in this state for up to 2 years).When the rains return and the water levels rise the
water softens the "cocoon" and the lungfish emerges thin and hungry its stored supply of fat gone they begin hunting and will eat all they can as
they begin to build fat stores for the next dry season-Anne

what else?

 

[the_evil_duboisi]

What do they eat? Can they be trained to eat nonlive foods, especially dried foods like pelltes, sticks, etc?

 

[GobyMaster]

Wow beblondie, you're kind of the resident expert on all the totally awesome fish!

After looking on Fishbase, I've identified the lungfish as a Protopterus amphibius, which is good, because it looks like the East African Lungfish is the smallest of the species.

Do you know how fast they grow? Because I'd estimate that the one at the LFS was 10-12", so if it'll grow to 2', do you have any idea how long it will take?

Because I have an empty 90 gallon (48x24x18"), and I was going to use it for a bichir tank of some kind, but I'm really interested in this fish.

I'm getting a job at that same fish store in May, so I'll be getting a steady stream of money flowing into my aquarium account, I can get a bigger tank (150 or something), that the lungfish can go in.

I'm anxious to get this guy - I've never seen one there before, and I have no idea how long he will be there, so if I am going to get it, I'd love to make a move soon.

So, any info on keeping them (max aquarium size, diet, temperament, etc.), would be very helpful!

Thanks in advance,
GobyMaster

 

[beblondie]

I'm run the primitive fish forums on two different boards.you need to reidentify the species (P. amphibius)2' gilled African lungfish is the true rarity
of lungfish,and would sell well over $90.00.They are also the hardest to maintain in captivity.They are prone to bacterial infections if the water is not top quality.Could you get a picture of it?Personaly i think its P.annectens (the most commonly imported of the african) or Protopterus aethiopicus
As with any African lungfish they are really a species only while they may get along with tankmates for sometime most keepers report the lung went wild and killed all its tankmates.
feeding is much the same as feeding bichirs Caution here lungfish have extermely powerful crushing bites and large specimens can remove a finger
if they get hold of it-Anne

 

[GobyMaster]

Okay, I'll try heading back there as soon as I can.

So, do you think it could be kept in a tank as big as I have?

 

[beblondie]

is there a larger tank in your future if not stick with bichirs they are actually more interesting and active than most lungfish-Anne

 

[beblondie]

Sorry evil i missed your question
diet
hikari massivevore pellets,sinking algae wafers,shrimp,smelt and fish fillets,Garden and aquatic snails,Earthworms,vegetable matter
its rather uncertain if they eat actual plants or ingest the vegetable matter via eating snails but it seems to help in preventing lateral line
problems.

 

[GobyMaster]

Yes, there will be a larger tank down the road a bit, how soon do you think that it will need it?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

You are most likely going to end up looking at getting at least a 200g tank for it (and some species get to 4-6ft long as stated above so would need a MASSIVE tank) and as mentioned they will tend to eat or kill most things that they are in with (at least from what I have read, I do not have personal experience with them). To be honest I dont think its an interesting enough fish to waste a 200g tank on.

 

[GobyMaster]

Oh well.

I guess later on I can set up a pond or something and get a lungfish.

I'll just put some bichirs in there.

Thanks for all the info!