West African Lungfish Care Guide - Size, Diet & Breeding

The West African Lungfish is a remarkable ancient-looking fish with an elongated, eel-like body, small eyes and long, thread-like paired fins. Its brown or grey-brown colouring provides camouflage among mud, roots and submerged vegetation, while the body may be marked with subtle darker mottling. Adults can become exceptionally large and powerful.

The West African Lungfish is native to freshwater habitats across much of tropical West and Central Africa, including river systems associated with Senegal, Gambia, Niger, Volta, Chad and surrounding basins. It inhabits floodplains, swamps, seasonal pools and slow-moving waters that may become severely depleted of oxygen or dry out during the dry season.

A full-grown West African Lungfish requires an exceptionally large, secure aquarium or indoor pond of at least 1,000 litres, with a footprint around 250 × 100 cm considered a more realistic starting point for a large specimen; bigger facilities are preferable. The tank must have a tightly fitting, escape-proof lid because lungfish can climb through surprisingly small gaps and must be able to reach the surface to breathe atmospheric air. Use a deep, soft sand or fine-mud-like substrate without sharp edges, provide broad open swimming space, sturdy shelters and subdued lighting, and leave clear access to the surface. Powerful filtration and generous biological capacity are essential, although the species also needs calm areas rather than a strong continuous current.

Up to about 100 cm (39.4 inches) in total length. Females are often reported to grow larger and heavier than males, although individual size varies.

This carnivorous species eats aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, molluscs, amphibians and fish in the wild. In captivity it can be offered earthworms, prawns, mussels, squid, fish flesh and appropriately sized sinking carnivorous pellets. Food should be substantial rather than made up of small snacks, and uneaten animal matter should be removed promptly to protect water quality.

West African Lungfish are best regarded as solitary predatory fish. They may consume tankmates small enough to fit in their mouths, including tetras, livebearers, juvenile cichlids and smaller catfish, while aggressive or highly territorial fish can injure them. Only robust, similarly sized fish should be considered, and even then compatibility is uncertain; keeping the lungfish alone is generally the safest approach.

Breeding West African Lungfish is extremely difficult in captivity and is rarely achieved in home aquariums. In nature, reproduction is linked to seasonal flooding: pairs spawn among aquatic vegetation, and the male guards the eggs and develops specialised, highly vascularised pelvic filaments that help maintain the brood. Successful breeding would require a very large, mature system that can replicate seasonal changes, dense vegetation and suitable water conditions.

Sexes are difficult to distinguish outside the breeding period, and juveniles cannot usually be sexed visually. Mature females may be larger-bodied, while breeding males develop more conspicuous, branched and highly vascularised pelvic filaments associated with guarding the eggs.