TankBud

West African lungfish

Protopterus annectens

Also known as African lungfish, Tana lungfish, Mudfish, African lung fish

FreshwaterFish

West African lungfish (Protopterus annectens)
Vassil · CC0

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–86°F
25–30°C
pH
6.0–8.0
Adult size
39.4 in
100 cm
Minimum tank
211 gal
800 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Own kind
One per tank
Tankmates
Species tank only
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Protopteridae
Origin
Native to swamps, floodplains and seasonal wetlands across West and Central Africa that dry out for part of the year.

Overview

The West African lungfish is a large, long-lived oddball for a very large tank of its own. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Lungfish can survive years sealed in dried mud. They breathe air and live off their own muscle until the rains return and free them.

Caring for the West African lungfish

Give a West African lungfish at least 211 gal (800 L), with a heavy, secure lid. It breathes air with paired lungs and will drown without access to the surface, so keep that access constant.

Keep the water at 77 to 86°F (25 to 30°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. Feed meaty foods such as fish, prawns, mussel and earthworms. It has a powerful bite, so keep your fingers clear at feeding time.

The West African lungfish is aggressive and will eat tank mates, so it is almost always kept alone. Keep only one lungfish per tank. Breeding West African lungfish is hard.

Good to know

The West African lungfish, Protopterus annectens, belongs to the ancient family Protopteridae. Its lineage is more closely related to land vertebrates than to most other fish. It is a long, eel-shaped air-breather with thread-like paired fins and smooth, slippery skin.

In the wild

The West African lungfish lives in swamps, floodplains and seasonal wetlands across West and Central Africa. These waters dry out for part of the year. In the dry season it burrows into mud and seals itself in a mucus cocoon to wait for rain. It can rest there through months of drought, breathing air through a small opening.

Common questions

What size tank does a West African lungfish need?

A West African lungfish needs at least 211 gal (800 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a West African lungfish need?

A West African lungfish is comfortable at 77–86°F (25–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.

What does a West African lungfish eat?

A West African lungfish eats meaty foods such as fish, prawns, mussel and earthworms. Keep your fingers clear at feeding time, since it has a powerful bite.

How big does a West African lungfish get?

An adult West African lungfish reaches about 39.4 in (100 cm).

Related species