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Datnioides polota
£47.99
A giant, air-breathing African lungfish with striking marbled patterning and a truly prehistoric presence. Expert care, semi-aggressive. 24-30C, pH 6.0-7.5.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Protopterus aethiopicus
Max Adult Size
up to 150 cm
Lifespan
20 years
Care Level
Expert
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Temperature
24–30°C
pH Range
6–7.5
Hardness
5–20 dGH
Minimum Tank
3000L
Diet
Carnivore
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Water Parameters
Temperature
24–30°C
24°CIdeal30°C
pH Level
6–7.5
6Ideal7.5
Water Hardness
5–20 dGH
5 dGHIdeal20 dGH
Protopterus aethiopicus
Protopterus aethiopicus - Tropical Fish for Sale UK
Expert Only
Semi-Aggressive
£45.99Sold Out
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Live arrival guaranteed. If they don’t arrive healthy, email us a short unboxing video the same day for a replacement or refund. Packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed.
£19.95 tracked delivery — half price (£9.98) from £100.00, free from £200.00. One delivery charge however many fish you add — everything travels together with a licensed live-animal courier.
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A giant, air-breathing African lungfish with striking marbled patterning and a truly prehistoric presence. Expert care, semi-aggressive. 24-30C, pH 6.0-7.5.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Protopterus aethiopicus
Max Adult Size
up to 150 cm
Lifespan
20 years
Care Level
Expert
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Temperature
24–30°C
pH Range
6–7.5
Hardness
5–20 dGH
Minimum Tank
3000L
Diet
Carnivore
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Water Parameters
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Temperature
24–30°C
24°CIdeal30°C
pH Level
6–7.5
6Ideal7.5
Water Hardness
5–20 dGH
5 dGHIdeal20 dGH
Overview
The African Lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus) is a living fossil — an air-breathing, eel-bodied giant whose lineage predates the dinosaurs. Intelligent, long-lived and genuinely interactive, it is one of the most extraordinary fish in the hobby, but its enormous adult size and powerful bite make it strictly a project for the experienced, well-equipped specialist.
150 cm
Adult size
3000 L
Min. aquarium
24–30°C
Temperature
6–7.5
pH
Expert
Care level
20 yrs
Lifespan
Appearance & Identification
Elongate and smooth-skinned with thread-like paired fins, the African Lungfish can reach an immense 150cm and live for decades. It possesses true lungs and must breathe air at the surface to survive. Colour is a marbled grey-brown that pales on the belly, and adults develop a heavy, muscular body.
Aquarium Setup
This species needs an aquarium measured in thousands of litres — 3000 litres or more — with a soft substrate, minimal sharp décor and, crucially, a heavy, securely-clamped lid. Warm water (24–30°C) at pH 6.0–7.5 and powerful, robust filtration are essential. It must always be able to reach the surface to breathe.
Important
The African Lungfish reaches around 1.5 metres, has a powerful, bone-crushing bite and is best considered a single-specimen animal for expert keepers with pond-scale housing. It is not suitable for a normal home aquarium or a community setting.
Temperament & Tank Mates
Semi-aggressive to outright predatory, it will attempt to eat or bite almost any tankmate and can injure careless hands. For these reasons it is nearly always kept alone. It is, however, remarkably aware of its surroundings and often learns to recognise and respond to its keeper.
| Great tank mates | Best avoided |
|---|---|
| Best kept alone | Any tankmate small enough to eat |
| Fish that could be bitten | |
| Delicate or slow companions |
Feeding
A carnivore, it takes large meaty foods such as whole mussel, prawn, earthworm, fish fillet and quality carnivore pellets. Feed adults a few times a week rather than daily, using tongs to avoid its powerful bite, and never overfeed a fish that produces this much waste.
Care at a glance
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive
- Swimming level: Bottom
- Diet: Carnivore
- Water: 24–30°C, pH 6–7.5
Expert Tip
Always feed with long tongs and keep the lid firmly secured — a lungfish is deceptively fast at the surface and both its bite and its escape attempts should never be underestimated.
Delivery & Live Arrival Guarantee
Every African Lungfish is hand-selected and quarantined before sale, then packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed and sent by tracked, live-animal courier. Your order is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee, so it reaches you safely anywhere in the UK.
Customer Reviews
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What customers say about ordering from us
4.6 on Google Maps, rated 4.6 out of 5 (opens in a new tab)4.4 · 91 shop reviews read them, rated 4.4 out of 5
- 4 out of 5Verified buyer
I have a small group of long finned mountain minnows. So was delighted to be able to order ten of this variety to increase the genetics in my tank . The ones I recieved are healthy but it’s to early to give a verdict on wether they are of a long finned type since they are small currently.
Gordon Walker · 23 Sept 2026
- 5 out of 5Verified buyer
100% success travel and "installation". Pleased with quality of purchase. The Siamese fighter a bit "shy" so have not yet seen him at his best yet but looking good. Happy customer. GG
George E Garratt · 21 Sept 2026
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