Columbian tetra old age?

[1 fish 2 fish]

He has black splotches at the base of his dorsal, anal and tail fins. It's at least 3 years old, probably close to 4, maybe more, could it be from old age? I don't know their life span. the rest of the fish look fine.

[andruboz]

i have some like that as well. at 2 years old now they are my oldest fish. i lost one but he died of loneliness. when i caught the other 4 for a move to another tank, he didnt want to be caught.

[stik6shift98]

i have a black skirt tetra and it looks like it is gonna die any time...but it has looked like that for 8 months now...it too is very old

[1 fish 2 fish]

thanks for the replys, just wanted to make sure, i wonder why that is

[stik6shift98]

prob the same thing as ppl getting old...

[1 fish 2 fish]

IT has since died, it looked a little torn up , I think the other fish knew it was weak, and started picking on it. After I posted this thread, the black splotches started to bulge

[valerie]

I don't think the black spots were from old age. I also have a group of colmbian tetras taht are about 3-4years old and they are still healthy as can be. The only thing is i see some of htem are now getting a small whitish dot in a couple eyes. Doesn't seem to slow them down.

I think they can live longer then 4 years asi remember a thread a long time ago that said hte ages certain tetras can liveto and most were over 5years. I think neons can live 7?

Don't know for sure, I will see if i can find the thread.

TOo bad about your columbian.

[1 fish 2 fish]

what else could it have been?

any ideas?