Angelfish Old Age

[abcdefghi]

Are there any signs that would be outwardly visible if an Angelfish is getting into old age? The angel in my avatar has been acting differently the last few days, rarely coming off the tank bottom, hiding behind driftwood etc. He just appears to be struggling to get around, his color is still very vivid, bright silver and solid black stripes, but something is clearly not right.

The reason I am wondering if it's old age is that he is likely a minimum of 9 years old at this point, and from what I have read typically angels live around 8-12 years. Not sure what else it could be, everything else in the tank is doing fine.

Thanks.

 

[fishorama]

Everything dies of something eventually...so yes, your angel maybe slowing down & might be more susceptible to disease or organ failure...kinda like old people. They don't die of "old age"...there's always a "cause", whatever it may be; heart or kidney failure, cancer (not sure that's been ID'ed in fish), but something.

9 years is a pretty good age for an angel, you deserve lots of credit to your good care. So try not to be sad but celebrate the fact it made for at least 9 years & not it's done yet!

 

[tanker]

9 years is old. I think the average is about 8-9.

 

[abcdefghi]

Thanks both, I agree I think 9 years is a good life and he has made it through all sorts.... tank moves, house moves, fighting with other angels, extended power outages etc. He seems to be moving around a little more this morning, but I am sure will slow down again as the day goes on.

 

[Belltrain]

That's awesome that your fish has been with you this long. You gave him a good long life, and that's something to celebrate.

 

[henningc]

The fish is really old and if you have ever spawned it that is hard on them as well. Congrats keeping it around this long.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Definitely congrats to you abc!

Hearing about these long term fish keeping success stories is what impresses me. This fish had an excellent keeper.

 

[abcdefghi]

That's awesome that your fish has been with you this long. You gave him a good long life, and that's something to celebrate.

Thanks.

The fish is really old and if you have ever spawned it that is hard on them as well. Congrats keeping it around this long.

Thanks, he did spawn once or twice but was never frequently spawning with a female.

Definitely congrats to you abc!

Hearing about these long term fish keeping success stories is what impresses me. This fish had an excellent keeper.

Thanks.

Quick update, I think I am at that point where I have to make the crappy decision of whether to ease him potentially suffering or not. If I watch him he sometimes swims around, but he is struggling to eat, keeps trying to hide way down in the plants, almost like he is just after someplace comfortable. I would hate for him to pass in the night and then the tetras/snails to start munching on him.

 

[FreshyFresh]

abc- Can you tell if the fish is pooping? Any signs of sores, etc? As long as no one is picking on him/her, I'd let nature take it's course. I've heard of very old fish going through these spells and then snapping out of it.

 

[abcdefghi]

To be honest I have not seen him poop for a while, but I have also not really looked! The only physical damage appears to be some scrapes from when he kind of acts a little weird and squeezes over the top of some driftwood in the tank. His color is still really good.

No other fish appear to be bothering him, tank mates are just some cories, tetras and 3 or 4 remaining kuhli loaches. I would really prefer to let nature do it's thing, just having to go through the thought process of how I would put him to sleep stinks! He is the sole remaining fish since I picked up a 10G tank long ago, so will be really strange to not have him front and center when he does pass away.