Fish Lifespan - How can you tell if your fish is dying from old age?

[only6foot6]

This is question that I have always had. It is kind of a deep thought provoking topic.

How can you tell if your fish are dying from old age? :sad:

All of us run to the LFS to get the latest & greatest medicines when our fish look ill. Is it possible though that sometimes you should just let things take a more natural course?

For some of us, we never get to see a fish live out their full lifespan. Poor fish keeping habits / tank conditions do the trick before old age can even come close to kicking in. I am assuming fish are like humans - Fish do not die from old age but yet become more susceptible to diseases as they get older.

Any thoughts?

 

[patoloco]

There is a normal life span for fish. For example, goldfish can live up to 15 years. Kois can get to 90 years old and grow up to 3ft. Some killifish are supossed to live 1 year.

If you want to know if your fish is old, research about the normal life span of a determined fish, get him when he is young and write down the date of purchase. it's an aproximate value, but helpful anyway.

 

[joephys]

Its hard to find that kind of info. The only thing I have been able to find are general statements like "tropical fish typically live .5-5 years depending on the fish."

 

[themadblimper]

I've had the same two upside-down catfish for the last 10 years. These little buggers can live for DECADES under decent conditions. They're still swimming, and I'm still happy.

Best $10.00 I ever spent.

 

[bluefish80]

I can relate to this, when i was an 8 y/o i had a goldfish for 3 days . . . im still unsure to this day if it was age or disease that got to him. :sad:

 

[josephish]

i had a port cichlid that was about ten years old. the last several months it acted reclusive and started loosing weight. eventually after several weeks of swimming like it was drunk i put it to sleep.

 

[CBTF]

Usually you can tell.. if you've had a fish for a few years or know that when you bought it that is was a little old and it starts acting different/sick then old age is probably the issue.

I've never put down a fish, I usually allow them to die on their own time I guess.

 

[RTR]

Cichids in general are quite long lived. I currently have a "retired" mbuna which is over 15 living all alone in a retirement tank, he still acts "normal". Dempsies can pass that easily. Many puffers are comparable.

Small schooling fish such as Tetras, which may even be annuals in the wild, should average at least 4 and up to 6 or more when well kept, some make 10 years.

Clown loaches are the longest-lived that I know. They should make the 20s and some exceed 40.

 

[portosat]

I had a silver dollar kick off at a minimum age of 22. (it's partner is still alive and kicking) I had an irridecent for 10 years before I got rid of him.

In general my fish make it quite a while. Generally sickness and stuff don't take them out, it's something stupid like heat and power giving out and the water temp dropping ungodly for a week.

 

[Snow Dog]

Great question! Seriously thought provoking. I think most people think of fish of being "less than a dog, cat, etc." but we humans may have more control of our long lived pets, that is fish, than "normal" pet owners. I'm attached to my fish after 3 months, I can't imagine 5, 20 or 40 years.