HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOddballs & predatorsAfrican bonytongue African bonytongue (Heterotis niloticus) Scientific name: Heterotis niloticus Cuvier, 1829 The African bonytongue (Heterotis niloticus) is a freshwater fish of the family Arapaimidae that grows to about 100 cm (39 in). It is difficult to keep and aggressive and needs a tank of at least 455 L (120 US gal), water at 24–30°C (75–86°F) and a pH of 6.7–7.5. Native range: Africa, Western and central Zones, Chad and Nile river basins and Lake Turkana. African bonytongue care at a glanceCare levelDifficultTemperamentAggressiveAdult size100 cm (39 in)Minimum tank455 L (120 US gal)Temperature24–30°C (75–86°F)pH6.7–7.5Hardness4–12 dGH (71–214 ppm)DietCarnivore. Accepts live foods. BiologyMaximum observed length in Lake Kainji: 100 cm, observed weight: 10000 g. Young found in swampy places among aquatic vegetation; adults live in the open water of rivers and lakes, where they can be found in the pelagic zone as well as the littoral zone. Are able to survive in deoxygenated waters; the hardiness of this fish, together with its great growth rate make it a candidate for aquaculture in Africa and it has been transported to a number of countries for this purpose. Escapees from ponds into the wild resulted in established populations, which form the basis for fisheries. Are considered as mud-feeders, but in West Africa also as phytoplankton feeders. Feed mostly on plankton, being the only plankton-feeders of the OsteogSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameHeterotis niloticusFamilyArapaimidae (Bonytongues)OrderOsteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length100.0Depth range1 m (3 ft)EnvironmentFreshwater; pelagic; depth range 1 - ? mClimateTropicalDistributionAfrica: Native in all the basins of the Sahelo-Sudanese region, the Senegal, Gambia, Corubal, Volta, Ou?m?, Niger, B?noue, Chad and Nile basins and Lake Turkana. Successful introductions in the storage reservoirs of C?te d'Ivoire, the Cross, Sanaga, Nyong and Ogowe rivers and lower and Middle Congo basin, including Ubangui and Kasa?. Also introduced in Madagascar. Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansPotential pestUsesFisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.22-0.4; Fec > 1,000) More oddballs & predatorsEel LoachPangio anguillarisApteronotus leptorhynchusIndonesian snakeheadChanna micropeltesGlass knifefishEigenmannia virescensBlack ghostApteronotus albifronsAlfaro cultratusSee all oddballs & predators Can it live with...?African bonytongue and Amazon leaffishAfrican bonytongue and Black ghostAfrican bonytongue and Eel LoachAfrican bonytongue and Elephantnose fishAfrican bonytongue and Freshwater butterflyfishAfrican bonytongue and Gangetic leaffishAfrican bonytongue and Glass knifefishAfrican bonytongue and Indonesian snakeheadAfrican bonytongue and Lesser spiny eelAfrican bonytongue and PirapatingaAfrican bonytongue and Zig-zag eel SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026