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Is Tricolor Lily a Good Plant for African Lungfish?

Reviewed by Guidarium Editorial DeskUpdated April 28, 2026
Not Recommended

Tricolor Lily is not recommended for African Lungfish. The issue is practical, not cosmetic: african Lungfish is likely to chew or tear this plant before it settles in.

Tricolor Lily

Nymphaea micrantha

View plant profile
PlacementMidground
LightModerate
DifficultyIntermediate
Size40 × 25 cm

African Lungfish

Protopterus annectens

View fish profile
TemperamentHighly Aggressive
FamilyOddballs
Temp24–30°C
Water TypeFreshwater Only

Quick Decision

A plant can be technically compatible with a fish and still fail in the actual tank if the fish digs, chews, needs denser cover, or uses a different part of the layout.

Overall fit

52/100

The fish is likely to outgrow, uproot, or out-pressure the plant.

Water match

Workable overlap

Shared range: 24-28°C, pH 6-7.5, 5-12 dGH.

Plant pressure

High

African Lungfish may chew, uproot, or stress this plant.

Layout value

Moderate cover

Tricolor Lily helps with provides surface cover, breaks lines of sight, useful spawning site, and good refuge for shrimp.

Plant and Fish Fit Notes

Use these signals to decide whether the plant is doing useful work for the fish, or whether it is only surviving beside it.

Temperature
Tricolor Lily22-28°C
African Lungfish24-30°C

Overlap: 24-28°C.

pH
Tricolor Lily6-7.5
African Lungfish6-8

Overlap: pH 6-7.5.

Hardness
Tricolor Lily2-12 dGH
African Lungfish5-20 dGH

Overlap: 5-12 dGH.

Water and flow
Tricolor LilyFreshwater Only, Low (Still Water)
African LungfishFreshwater Only, Low (Still Water)

Flow expectations are close enough for one layout.

Space used
Tricolor LilyMidground and Background
African LungfishBottom (Substrate), Middle (Open Water), and Top (Surface)
Pressure signals
Tricolor LilyModerate uproot resistance, Delicate leaves
African LungfishHighly Aggressive, Piscivore (Eats small/nano fish), Generally Aggressive, and Aggressive to same species/look-alikes

Plant pressure: High.

Planting value
Tricolor LilyProvides surface cover, Breaks lines of sight, Useful spawning site, and Good refuge for shrimp, Nutrient-rich substrate preferred
African LungfishSand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), and Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding)

Shared Tank Conditions

Tricolor Lily fits inside the water range normally used for African Lungfish. The shared window is about 24 to 28 °C, pH 6 to 7.5, and 5 to 12 dGH, which gives you enough room to aim for stable middle-ground conditions.

Both do best with gentle, low-flow water, so circulation does not need to be split into competing zones.

Both are suited to freshwater, so salinity does not add an extra planning problem.

Fish Pressure and Plant Resilience

African Lungfish puts heavy pressure on plants, so this species is likely to be chewed, uprooted, or stressed in day-to-day use.

Tricolor Lily has moderate cover density, moderate uproot resistance, and delicate leaves. It can also help with surface cover, breaking up sight lines, spawning sites, and shrimp refuge.

The plant helps break up sight lines, which can soften territorial behaviour.

The limiting issue is african Lungfish is likely to chew or tear this plant before it settles in.

Layout Fit

Tricolor Lily is a bulb / tuber plant usually used midground and background.

African Lungfish is an oddball fish, so the pairing works best when the planting style supports how that fish uses space and cover.

Tricolor Lily reaches about 40 cm tall by 25 cm wide and is usually bulb / tuber on or partly in substrate with nutrient-rich substrate preferred. That makes placement and anchoring more important than simply adding a larger bunch of stems or leaves.

In this pairing, the useful plant values are surface cover, line-of-sight breaks, spawning sites, and shrimp refuge. Place it where African Lungfish can actually use that structure instead of hiding the plant where it cannot do much.

Practical Recommendation

For most keepers, a tougher or better-matched plant is the smarter choice. If you still try it, test with a small amount first and be ready to move the plant before it is badly damaged.

The decision should center on this signal: African Lungfish is likely to chew or tear this plant before it settles in.

Best Use Case

Tricolor Lily is usually the wrong plant for African Lungfish if your goal is a stable display tank. The issue is rarely one dramatic failure on day one; it is the steady mismatch between what the fish does in the scape and what the plant needs to stay attractive long term.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tricolor Lily and African Lungfish

Is Tricolor Lily a good plant for African Lungfish?

Tricolor Lily is not recommended for African Lungfish. The issue is practical, not cosmetic: african Lungfish is likely to chew or tear this plant before it settles in.

Can African Lungfish damage Tricolor Lily?

African Lungfish is likely to chew or tear this plant before it settles in.

Do Tricolor Lily and African Lungfish share the same water conditions?

Tricolor Lily and African Lungfish share a workable water window around 24 to 28 °C, pH 6 to 7.5, and 5 to 12 dGH. Keep the tank near the middle of that overlap for the best long-term result.

What does Tricolor Lily add to a tank with African Lungfish?

The plant helps break up sight lines, which can soften territorial behaviour.

What is the main risk in this plant and fish pairing?

African Lungfish is likely to chew or tear this plant before it settles in.

Editorial Review

Guidarium Editorial Desk

Reviewed against Guidarium care, stocking, and compatibility standards. Read the editorial policy.

Last reviewed
April 28, 2026
Last updated
April 28, 2026
Issues or corrections?
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