폐어

The Lungfish is a living fossil — one of the oldest vertebrate lineages on Earth, with ancestors dating back over 400 million years to the Devonian period. Protopterus annectens, the West African Lungfish, possesses both gills and a pair of functional lungs, allowing it to survive prolonged droughts by burrowing into mud and entering a state of aestivation that can last months or even years. This extraordinary adaptation makes the Lungfish one of the most biologically fascinating species available to aquarists, a direct window into the evolutionary transition from water to land.

At The Fish Collection, we source our Lungfish from established breeders and licensed importers working with populations across Sub-Saharan Africa. Each specimen is quarantined and confirmed feeding before listing. Protopterus annectens reaches up to 39 inches in captivity, with a thick, elongated body, paddle-like pectoral and pelvic fins, and a distinctive external gill structure in juveniles that reabsorbs as the fish matures.

Housing a Lungfish requires a minimum 150-gallon aquarium with a secure, heavy lid — these animals are powerful and surprisingly agile, capable of pushing unsecured covers aside. The tank should have a soft sand substrate and minimal decoration, as Lungfish are clumsy swimmers that can injure themselves on sharp objects. Filtration must be robust but flow should be gentle, as this species inhabits sluggish waterways in the wild. Water temperature should be maintained between 75 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Temperament is aggressive and territorial. Lungfish have powerful jaws lined with crushing tooth plates capable of inflicting serious bites on tankmates and careless keepers alike. They are best kept alone. Diet is carnivorous — offer earthworms, shrimp, mussels, fish fillets, and sinking carnivore pellets. Lungfish are enthusiastic feeders with a powerful bite that can crack shellfish with ease.

The obligate air-breathing behavior is the species' most captivating feature. Lungfish surface regularly to gulp air, and will drown if denied access to the surface. Ensure there is always a gap between the water surface and the tank lid. This breathing behavior, combined with their ancient lineage and unique morphology, makes the Lungfish an unparalleled conversation piece for the expert aquarist.