All fish / Protopteridae

Slender Lungfish

Protopterus dolloi

Also known as spotted lungfish, slender african lungfish, african lungfish, dolloi lungfish, lungfish, プロトプテルス・ドロイ

The slender lungfish has a long, eel-like brown body with thread-like paired fins and a fin fold that runs along the back and round the tail. Young fish are spotted, but the spots usually fade as the fish grows. It is an ancient air-breathing fish that must gulp air at the surface, and oddball keepers value it for its hardiness and unusual behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

80 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

1000 litres

Keep as

Keep singly

Diet

Carnivore: fish fillet, prawns, mussels, earthworms, large pellets and other meaty foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

20 years or more

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Middle and lower Congo River basin (DR Congo, Republic of the Congo)

Breeding

In the wild the male digs a burrow or nest in swamp mud during the dry season and guards the eggs and larvae, while the female stays in open water. Captive breeding is almost never reported because of the fish's size and aggression.

Good to know

It can exceed 1 m in length and gives a serious bite, so take care when handling it or working in the tank, and keep it alone as it attacks tankmates. It always needs access to the surface to breathe air, and the lid must fit tightly.