| Lungfish can survive in poorly aerated waters | | | | one of the African lungfish species, a fish which |
| since they have lungs which make its possible for | | | | can reach a maximal size of 2 metres / 6 feet |
| them to obtain oxygen directly from the air. The | | | | which makes it unsuitable for hobbyist aquariums. |
| lungs are related to those in primitive amphibian | | | | Even the smaller Lungfish species grow very large |
| animals. Today, there are six known Lungfish | | | | and should only be housed in huge tanks. |
| species in world, but they used to be much more | | | | In Africa, you will find four different Lungfish |
| common. Lungfish have been around since the | | | | species. Protopterus annectens is the most |
| Lower Devonian era and during earlier stages of | | | | popular species among aquarists. The three other |
| the planets history there existed much more than | | | | ones are Protopterus aethiopicus, Protopterus |
| six lungfish species. Those species that have | | | | amphibious and Protopterus dolloi. You should |
| survived have changed little since the Lower | | | | never get an African lungfish unless your aquarium |
| Devonian age. The Australian lungfish have for | | | | is very large, since they grow rapidly. As long as |
| instance looked pretty much the same during the | | | | you can provide them with enough space, they |
| last 100 million years. | | | | are however though fishes that will tolerate a |
| Today, you will find wild Lungfish in Africa, South | | | | wide range of water conditions. They will eat all |
| America and Australia. The African and South | | | | sorts of food. Even though they are predatory |
| American Lungfish species all belong to the family | | | | fish, it is not very hard to make them accept dry |
| Lepidosirenidae, while the Australian Lungfish has | | | | and frozen foods. When kept on a diet of |
| its own family - the Ceratodidae. As mentioned | | | | prepared food they will still appreciate occasional |
| earlier, all Lungfish species are capable of breathing | | | | live treats. This means that your African lungfish |
| oxygen from the air. Other shared features are | | | | should ideally be housed alone since it will happily |
| their large, elongated and snakelike bodies. They | | | | devour any tank mates. If the other fish is too |
| are also predators and will eat pretty much | | | | large to swallow, the African lungfish will simply |
| anything that they manage to catch. Fish is their | | | | bite chunks out of it until it is fully consumed. |
| staple food, but they will happily also gulp down | | | | On the South American continent you will only find |
| crustaceans, larger insects and other aquatic | | | | one Lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa. This Lungfish |
| creatures. They are very robust and can survive | | | | can also be kept in aquariums and its |
| in waters shunned by most other fish species. If | | | | requirements are very similar to the African |
| you want to keep Lungfish in your aquarium you | | | | lungfish species. Just like its African cousins, it |
| should however avoid the highest pH-values. | | | | must be given plenty of room. Lepidosiren |
| Before you buy a Lungfish for your aquarium | | | | paradoxa can reach a maximal size of 1.2 meters |
| should consider their size. The largest Lungfish is | | | | 4 feet. |