Symptoms when fish dies of old age

[grayson]

Hi, I hope this question isn't an old one that has been answered many times.

I have had a 33 gallon aquarium for about 2 years. Two of my original fish (2 Platys) recently died. They were at least 2 years old. They stopped eating and became "listless" (swimming around slowly) and died. They had no outward signs of disease. Now one of my original swordtails is doing the same thing. I excpect she will be next. All water parameters are good. I have about 12 fish in the tank (all swords and platys) and 3 catfish so I don't think it's over stocked. All of the younger fish are "happy" and eating normally etc.

Is it possible they are dying of old age ? All data I can find says that swords and platys can live for 3 - 5 years but is this accurate ?

I've had aquariums on and off since I was 12 and let's just say I'm a little over half a century now so I have had some experience but can't say I have ever thought of how fish react when they are dying of old age.

Oh...one more thing. She seems to be somewhat interested in food but if she does manage to take in a bit of food she spits it right back out.

Thanks in advance for any inforamtion you can provide. grayson

 

[CJC]

I went through the EXACT same thing with my platies, and I believe that it was old age. I had no signs of any problems in my tank and all the water param's were good too. They became listless, when they would try to eat they would spit it back out, then they would become larthargic, float towards the top of the tank for a few days with thier fins clamped, and then that would be it. And much like you all the info I read stated that a platies life span was 3-5 yrs. Some of the platies that were dying in my aquarium were still fairly young too. I called the lady that breed them and spoke w/ her, spoke w/ a reputable fish store in town, even had them test my water, and everything checked out great. The only logically explaination they could come up with was that it was old age for the ones that died.

Have you tested your water param's? Ammonia, Nitrite, PH, Nitrates? There are always other things that could contribute to the deaths that are "silent" killers. I am sure that there are veterans on the forum that would know much more than I and perhaps they could offer you some better advice. I just know that I went through the same thing and it was contributed to "old age".