NOTES ON REARING YOUNG CERATODUS. 
By A. Rudel. 
It was my good fortune to receive on December 1st, 1933, through the 
Queensland Museum, two specimens of the Queensland Lungfish, Epiceratodus 
forsteri, for the purpose of rearing them, if possible, to the adult stage. These fish 
were hatched out by the late Dr. T. L. Bancroft and were, after his death, sent with a 
few others to the Museum by his daughter, Dr. Josephine Mackerras. When 
received the fish were 17 mm. in length. They were hatched out between September 
23rcl and October 9th, 1933. 
After their long journey from Eidsvold, the two small fish seemed in poor 
condition, and one of them was floating upside down in the container, but a slight 
touch sent it to the bottom very much alive. 
I prepared an all-glass aquarium, size 30 x 9 x 9 cm., in the following 
manner : — The bottom was covered with well-washed coarse sand to a -depth of 50 
mm., rising to a height of 120 mm. at one end. I covered the highest part of the floor 
with smooth pebbles the size of hazel nuts to provide hiding places for the fish. 
The height of the water was just flush with the highest point, i.e. 120 mm. 
Out of a few long-established aquaria I siphoned some sediment consisting 
of decayed vegetable matter, such as aquatic plants and algae and excreta of aquatic 
snails and fish, which covered the new tank to a depth of about 10-12 mm. This 
sediment sinks quickly to the bottom and leaves the water quite clear. It contains 
a host of living organisms. To keep the water pure I planted a few sprigs of Hydrilla 
and Ceratophyllum demersum. After making sure that the temperature of the water 
in the new tank was equal to that in the container, which was 24 Celsius, I 
transferred the two specimens. Colour of young fish : — blackish above and lighter 
below. Now the vexed question of feeding presented itself. I did not have the 
faintest idea what they would eat or what they would require. As I could see by their 
size that they were past the infusoria stage, I decided to give them a mixed diet and 
feed them on things with which I generally feed young fry. First of all I placed a 
lot of mosquito rafts (eggs of Culex) in the aquarium ; then I strained a quantity 
of mosquito larvae through a fine tea strainer and also crushed three or four aquatic 
snails in the water. After two days I rubbed a few Enchytrae worms through a fine 
strainer. Two days later I rubbed a little shredded raw beef through a fine strainer, 
giving them a change of diet every second day. Needless to say I took great care 
not to foul the water, especially as I had placed the tank in a position where the 
light was only subdued. 
