Monster in a 'tight spot'

[greytdobe]

I received an email from a close friend in VA/DC area. Her daughter left home recently and left her with her 6yo ...LUNGFISH. When i asked my friend how she could afford to feed 'the big man', she tells me all he eats is algae tablets:confuzeld: I told her NOOOOOOOO they are carnivorous! He needs meat! AND I heard -a huge tank.
She tells me she can't get a bigger tank b/c of size constraints...and if i want him come get him!
Guys, we need to find a place for The BIG MAN! He is adorable...my rescue instincts are kicking in big time (I did doberman rescue for 10yrs)
check out this pitiful photo...makes me want to cry...

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r276/greytdobe/5e476820.jpg

Here he is in the tank sideways...she said she thought it was a 45gal.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r276/greytdobe/b35cf072.jpg

YOU MONSTER MEN....HELP THIS POOR BOY! Who by the way loves beef heart she said!

[biggin]

Very cool fish.

How are you going to transport it?

[kewlkatdady]

we have one member from VA...
but this is mostly a local forum...
a good place to post this would be:
www.monsterfishkeepers.com (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com)

[budwick weiser]

mmm she should make a lungfish sandwich...

[AndrewH]

Anyone know the "needs" of this fish? What size tank do they require? I'd assume they'll eat anything that'll fit into their month.

Very interesting indeed.

[greytdobe]

He really is a cool fish....he'll crawl up there and eat from your hand. AND Yes, he will eat anything that will fit in his mouth. They bought him at about 4 inches long...and he's now almost full grown. His teeth are HUGE! To answer ANDREWH, i have been doing some reading and it looks like a 200gal is what they need...i think long and shallow is the key . I've thought about looking for a stock tank to put in the garage! She can't do it b/c of their winters. I'll have to get on the monster forum and see if we can find him a new home.

[tsunderl]

Poor fish! Looks sad and depressed. Hope he finds a new home soon. :(

[doughboy]

I've always thought lungfish are pretty interesting.

You could also check out aquaticpredators.com and waterwolves.com.

[bra8ndy8]

That is sooo cool....it's sad that he is living like that, but there is a light!! Good luck finding him a new home!!

[flamenco-t]

There are a few species of lungfish....african, south american and australian. African and Aussie can live for more than 100 years. There is an aussies lungfish in shedd aquarium that have been in that aquarium for 75 years, when he was captured, he was full grown..

Their max size in captivity is about 4 ft max.

Judging by the "inexperience-ness" of your friend, I'd assume it is a south american lungfish. Their max size is about 2 ft and have a life expenctancy of 10-20 years.

They really don't need a monster tank because they have low metabolism and don't really move around a lot, but you WANT to put him in a monster tank because of a bio load. An average Lungfish poop is about the size of a 50 lbs dog poop. They are very very messy...a 50% wc every 2 days is needed for those guys in a smaller tank.

They are carnivorous, tell your friend to be really really carefull, lungfish bite can take your finger out of your hand...their jaw can crush and dismember your body parts. You have been warned !!!

You can have him ship to you, they're air breather...so shipping is a lot easier than an average fish. They hibernate in a dry mud in the wild over a drought season, so they can live without water if neccesary.

If you want to have him ship, do the following;

1. Tell your friend NOT to feed the lungfish 1 week prior to ship date. This is important, as their waste can become an ammonia spike in a shipping bag/box.

2. Pack him up in about 1 gallon of tank water, DO NOT BLOW INTO THE BAG, you're blowing CO2, but rather just Catch the bag and let all the fresh air in to trap all O2 in the bag.

3. Put him in 3-4 layers of 4-6 mill bag.

4. Put 2 layers of styrofoam or put the bag in a styrofoam box before putting in the brown shipping box.

5. have it ship UPS and Fedex only Overnight. Have it drop off at the latest possible time (6-7 PM after the weather had cooled down a bit) and have it deliver in the AM before the the weather gets too hot.

You can setup a 90 - 125 gallon for him....get a good canister and a hang on back filter and you can have a pet for life...

I am not an expert of lungfish, but I know enough about them....I would've taken him if I wasn't consolidating my obsession..

Any question ? just ask me....I'll be glad to help..

stan

[guppyfreak2]

hope he gets a good home:)

[budwick weiser]

awesome info stan... hope all the knowledge you're gaining helps you get that fish a good home!

[greytdobe]

Stan, this is wonderful info. I do remember her telling me he was south american...and would grow to about 2+feet. And she knows his teeth are sharp. He accidently got her one day! I heard the bioload is tremendous and since i found out about him, she really has been doing what I say...clean the tank, feed meat based, etc. So i guess we should be glad she is trying to help him till we can rehome him.
I guess Craigslist will be my new best friend. If ya'll see a cheap tank for the Big Man...LET ME KNOW .
Again, thanks everyone for the warm reception. You guys really are in it for the FISH!:clap:

[flamenco-t]

I have a 90 gallon that is perfect for him..

http://www.dfwfishbox.com/forums/production/showthread.php?t=3768

You can run it as is without a sump, or add a sump if you like to get more water volume to make up for the bio load. Everything is drilled and cap, to run with no sump. If you decide to run a sump, you just need to un-cap the drilled holes.

Stan

[greytdobe]

I have a 90 gallon that is perfect for him..

http://www.dfwfishbox.com/forums/production/showthread.php?t=3768

.

Stan

Stan, the tank I really want is the short 65gal custom. I have been drooling over that one on their website .....i'm going to get to measuring...now everyone has me wanting to ditch the bazillion bettas in tiny boxes that need cleaning 2x week and die in 2 yrs to some gynormous ugly fish that has poops the size of a doberman.

I SHOULD HAVE NEVER COME HERE! You folks are not good for the addictive person:D

[flamenco-t]

The 65 gallon is pending pick up. Blake is picking it up....unless he wants to pass it on to you, I am holding it for him.

The 90 gallon will be better off IMO. Remember, the difference in volume can mean the difference between WC twice a week to a once a week or a week and a half..

On the other hand, lungfish likes to "chill" along the height of the tank...the 25" tall tank is so much better for them versus the 16" tall tank.

stan

[greytdobe]

On the other hand, lungfish likes to "chill" along the height of the tank...the 25" tall tank is so much better for them versus the 16" tall tank.

stan

That is interesting to know...I always thought The Big Man did that in Kathy's tank b/c he wanted more room to stretch out.... I'm going to look at that 90 gal footprint and get back to you...

thanks a million.

[flamenco-t]

I have seen some that does that quite a bit, but the water volume for stability is what you want to aim for..

Stan

[greytdobe]

Stan, how tall is the tank + stand? trying to find room in this place...i have a nook it may fit in...tank I know is 24-25" tall...

sincerely, the fish designer:confused:

[flamenco-t]

Overall height of the tank and the stand is 64". Perfect viewing height..;)

stan

[bgbdwlf2500]

im the VA member but have no room for another big tank. ive got a 125 sitting on the floor waiting for us to move. i'll ask around but its not the prettiest fish:D

[mrsadler]

pm sent

[mrsadler]

wats the update havent heard anything :confused:

[lellison]

wow, just caught this post. That is terrible! What ended up happening?

[flamenco-t]

Lungfish is far better than to clasify them as pretty...they're more intrigue and have a lot of "cool" factor.


stan