life span of guppies

[daniellehaagen]

I was just wondering if anyone could tell me the average life span of guppies? Thanks!

 

[BIGgourami]

1yr is my max. but i only keep them for breeding feeders. soo it's prob higher

 

[TropicalNorth]

I think it's around 2-3 years, although there are always exceptions to the rule with fish.

 

[ImAGMan]

I've visited several sites average from 2-5 years.

 

[ralpf]

If they are happy and healthy, temperature, feeding and all, 2 to 3 years is about right!

 

[aquaman#1]

The average is two years.

 

[nickmcmechan]

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/beginnerinfo/a/lifespan.htm

 

[ct-death]

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/beginnerinfo/a/lifespan.htm

Good find Nick! Great source to get general information


Not very consice though...

i.e.
"Pleco - 7 to 15 years" <-- That's a lot of species!

 

[J double R]

it depends a lot with breeding strains and whatnot.

the 'wild', or feeder type guppies, often will not live past 2 years because of the excessive inbreeding that happens over and over and over in the closed breeding systems.

fancy guppies may live to be 3, or even 4 years old if they are bred from separate strains.

and of course, optimum tank conditions for as much of their lifespan as possible will help improve this.

 

[Malefic23]

I think you'll find 2 to 3 years to be about average for a guppy. You can extend this by not letting them breed, that takes a lot of energy from them, and by maintaining high quality water conditions, and a good variety of food. You're not going to squeeze more than another year or so out of most guppies though.