Many people recognize that dogs live to be 8 to 12 years old and cats live to be 12 to 14 years old. But what about fish?Which fish lives the longest?
When many people decide to add fish to their homes, longevity is not normally considered. While not much is known about the lifespan of wild species, limited fish can survive for several years with proper care. These sustainability expectations are modest and with the treatment of excellent tanks, some fish species can live significantly longer.
A few reference books contain answers to the owners' most common questions. How long will my fish live? The solution varies greatly depending on the variety of fish. In general, smaller species nevertheless have much shorter lifespans than larger fish, and they also live longer than juveniles.
The two most common types of fish - the Betta and the goldfish - come face to face. The typical betta lives less than 2 years, while goldfish can live for years.
Remember that aquarium species can live much longer with proper treatment; On the other hand, fish that are not raised in the best environment and also not well cared for will definitely have a shorter lifespan.
Some fish are likely to live longer than others, but which species have the longest life expectancy? Keep reading to discover the earliest fish that ever lived and get tips for optimizing the lifespan of your own tropical species
There is certainly a difference in life expectancy between fish in the wild and in captivity, but many fish have the ability to live quite a long time. Keep reading to learn more about the oldest fish that ever lived and to find some tips for keeping your own fish alive and healthy for years to come.
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The oldest fish ever recorded
Fish actually survived this planet much longer than humans, but many of the species that once lived are no longer around today. However, there are several cases of tropical type that have survived the common life span of many people.
Here are the five oldest tropical fish on record:
1. Opa- An Australian lungfish housed at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Grandpa lived to be 95 years old. Grandpa was donated to the Shedd Aquarium along with numerous other native species by the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia.
2. Herman–Herman, a sturgeon, turned 80 at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery in Oregon. Herman is popular, but has also faced death countless times during numerous kidnapping attempts.
3. Background-– Buttkiss, a black pacu kept at the Cameo Pet Shop in Queens, NY, is possessed by Steve Gruebel. Buttkiss was originally purchased in 1967, but was put on the market when Gruebal had to fight in the Vietnam War a year later. He was later repurchased and lived to the age of 20.
4. Methusalah-– Another Australian lungfish, Methuselah, became the oldest living fish after Grandpa passed away in 2017. This fish entered the California Academy of Sciences in 1938, currently fully expanded, and became known for its love of belly rubs and hand-fed figs.
5. Goldie-– Owned by Pauline Evans, Goldie holds the record for being the earliest goldfish to ever live as a pet. Goldie turned 45 after moving in with Pauline after her parents died in the 1990s.
Goldie isn't the only goldfish to reach mature seniority. In fact, fish are among the longest living tropical species, as long as they are cared for.
Here are eight more goldfish that have lived the longest
✦ Both Tish and Tosh— A year before his death, Tish was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living goldfish. Hilda Hand tended the fish along with Tosh, an extra fish won by Hilda's child at a fair in 1956. Tosh died in 1975 at the age of 19 and also Tish in 1999 at the age of 43.
✦ Splish a Splash-- Splish and Splash belonged to the Wright household. Both were won in 1977 at a reasonable price and lived for years. Splish passed away in 2013 at the age of 36 and Splash turned 38.
✦Bob— The latest news about Bob comes from 2017 (when he was 20 years old) when his owner spent $250 on a surgical treatment to save his life. After causing a swelling on his fin, Bob struggled to swim, and his relatives also spent a 30-minute procedure to get rid of the swelling. Bob effectively recovered.
While fish are just one of the most popular tropical species in terms of longevity, they are not alone. Keep watching to see some of the longest-lived in tropical species.
✦ both Fred and George-– Keith and Mary Allies won this set of goldfish at a reasonable price in 1974, when the couple were just dating. They are currently married and their set of fish last matured at 40 years in 2015. It has not been identified if the fish are still alive.
✦ Hey- Sharky, 24 years old in 2012, was a white goldfish won by Paul Palmer at a neighborhood party when he was 4 years old. Palmer never expected Sharky to live as long as he did, especially considering the fish his sibling won that same day really didn't live longer than a week. Sharky had a near death experience when he was discovered face up in his plate and also flushed down the bathroom. Still active, he swam right back up.
Average lifespan by species
Aquarium owners are constantly asking how long their fish can live. The truth is that there is no personal solution to this question - it varies depending on different aspects. Normally, small fish have a shorter lifespan than large fish, and fish that lay eggs tend to live longer than viviparous fish.
Two of one of the most prominent types of aquarium fish are at opposite ends of the age range. Betta fish live an average of 2 years, while goldfish can live for years. Any species of fish can live longer than its expected lifespan, but with quality care and a healthy and balanced diet.
Some of the fish with the shortest life expectancy are killifish that only live for a year or two. Bettas come next at 2 to 3 years, although some have gone on to be 5 years or even longer. Viviparous fish such as platys, mollies, and swordtails generally live less than 5 years at best. Other species in a smaller area, such as tetras, rasboras, and so on, go online around 3 to 5 years.
The tropical species that often live the longest are fish, loaches, silver dollars and certain types of cichlids. Things to remember with goldfish is that the majority of them are not cared for properly. There is a typical mistaken belief that fish will just grow as big as their container will allow, which is simply not true. A large area, high water quality and a nutritious diet are essential for any type of fish to achieve a long life expectancy.
Here are some additional tips:
Give your fish more space than it needs. There is a general rule that your aquarium should be one gallon in size for every inch of fully grown fish. You can use this as a starting point, but it never hurts to bring a few extra gallons.
Lower the fear as much as possible. You may not think so, but fish can become stressed due to environmental changes or hostile tank mates. If you keep several males, make sure the tank is big enough to fit a number of areas with enough design to separate lines of sight so your fish don't get jittery.
Use proper tank equipment. Filling a tank with water is not nearly enough to keep your fish healthy. You need a three-stage purification system to remove strong and also dissolved wastes from the water and also a boiler heater to keep the right temperature in the storage tank.
Evaluate your water once a week. Points change quickly in a confined environment like your tank, so test the water once a week to make sure everything from pH to salinity is within the correct range depending on the species you're maintaining.
Buy high-quality food. Figure out what kind of diet your fish need in the wild, then approach it as carefully as possible with both commercial and fresh foods. Supplement an herbivore's diet with fresh vegetables and an omnivore's or carnivore's diet with things like saltwater shrimp, mealworms, and forage fish.
Add some real time plants to your container. Despite not breathing air, fish still need oxygen and adding live plants to your tank can help with CO2 exchange. The better the water quality in your aquarium, the healthier your fish will be.
Make regular water adjustments. As your fish eats and lives, it generates waste that breaks down and adds dangerous chemicals to the water. Performing weekly water changes will refresh the water and keep the environment safe and healthy for your fish.
Although tropical animals are much different from traditional animals such as canines and domestic cats, they deserve no less quality treatment. Take what you've discovered below to provide your tropical fish with the most effective care possible to maximize their life expectancy.
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