No photo yet
Sign in to submit the first photo
African Lungfish
Protopterus annectens
📍 Africa
The African Lungfish is a primitive, air-breathing fish capable of surviving in mud cocoons during droughts, making it a fascinating but challenging species for experienced aquarists. This large, eel-like fish requires spacious tanks and specialized care due to its unique biology and aggressive territorial behavior. It is best kept by dedicated hobbyists with advanced knowledge of unusual fish species.
Community Photos
0 photosPhotos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.
No photos yet — add a tank with African Lungfish to be the first!
Sign in to vote.
Care Guide
Diet
African Lungfish are strictly carnivorous and require live or freshly killed prey including small fish, earthworms, snails, and crustaceans. Feed 2-3 times weekly for juveniles and 1-2 times weekly for adults. They may refuse food during estivation periods or when preparing to cocoon.
Behavior
This species is highly territorial and aggressive, attacking any fish or invertebrate it perceives as competition or prey. It is primarily nocturnal and spends much of its time buried in substrate or hiding among vegetation. African Lungfish can gulp air at the water surface and will construct mud cocoons if water conditions deteriorate.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is extremely difficult and rarely successful in home aquariums. Males are highly aggressive during spawning and require specially designed breeding tanks with soft substrate for nest construction. Larvae are difficult to rear and require specialized live foods and careful water management.
Tank Mates
Common Diseases
Bacterial Infection
Fin rot, body sores, lethargy, loss of appetite, cloudy eyes
Improve water quality, perform frequent water changes, use antibiotic medications if severe
Parasitic Infection
Excessive scratching, white spots or patches, rapid gill movement, weight loss
Quarantine affected fish, treat with antiparasitic medications, maintain pristine water conditions
Fungal Infection
White cottony growth on body or fins, lethargy, loss of appetite
Increase water temperature slightly, use antifungal medications, improve water quality and reduce stress
Nutritional Deficiency
Stunted growth, color fading, weakened immune system, increased disease susceptibility
Provide varied diet of high-quality live foods, ensure proper feeding frequency and portion sizes
Tips from the community 💡
0 tipsReal experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.
Sign in to share your experience.
No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!
Quick Facts
- diet
- Carnivore - feeds on live fish, crustaceans, and large invertebrates
- lifespan
- 25-40 years
- max size
- 100 cm (39 in)
- tank size
- 200 gallons minimum
- temperament
- aggressive
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0-7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 4-8 dGH
- temperature
- 68–77°F (20–25°C)