Raise your hand if you've ever kept a fish FOR LIFE.

[flowerpower]

I personally have never stuck it out with a fish for the long haul.
I am thinking about re-homing my 5 yo, 10" Jag and had to ask,
"Who has kept a fish from a juvenile until it died of old age?"
Well, speak on it.
What species and how old when it died of natural causes.
Illness and 'piscicide' don't count.
BTW, lots of respect to those who've accomplished this for their wet pets.

 

[krichardson]

Well I did have this Tan***ican Tilapia that was a nice size when I got it.It lived for quite a few years and then just up and died so I like to assume that it was from old age.

 

[MonsterMinis]

I had a betta for almost 5 years. not sure exactly how long they live but I've been told 3-5 on average. i've had quite a few fish hit the 10 yr mark in the past. but i'm not really sure if they where just old or if other factors played in. i'm sure with some they did.

 

[gspille]

I've had an emerald cory live over 14 years.

 

[gspille]

Sorry wife just corrected me, it lived about 11 years.

 

[alex01]

i won a common plec at a fair when i was four and its still going strong 12 years later

 

[Hoyo12]

Raised a Gold Gourami from a baby, lived for 6 years. (Died a few months ago)

 

[StripeGirl]

i have two green texas 6 yrs and 3

I have 10 poly endlis at 11
2 silver arowanas at 3 years old
a 3.5 year old fire eel.

My longest fish was a 14 year old midas that died a few years ago:{

some fish i keep for a while and then trade.Others i keep for life.

 

[krichardson]

How long have you had your Niger cat?

 

[BPags52]

My ornate bichir died at 18" at about 3 years old. Was only a few inches when i got it.

My Oscar died at arond 14" I'd guess, at about 4 years old. Had him since he was less than 2".

My longest living fish was my jaguar cichlid. After the rest of the stock had died off in years prior, I got bored of the tank. Finally back in February of this year, I decided to trade in the jaguar and re-do the setup/stock of my tank.

I kind of felt bad for getting rid of the jaguar after having it for so long (almost 4.5 years). But I was just bored of the single fish in a 125g and ended up neglecting the tank because of it. I did get its tank back up to par for a couple months before trading her in. The guy at the LFS said he sold it to a guy with a male jaguar cichlid in a 75g. So its tank was downgraded in size but it now has a mate (if all went well...assuming the LFS guy was telling the truth).

Don't get me wrong, I don't think jag cichlids are boring. I'm just not a fan of a single fish in a 125g. and I had a feeling anything I'd try to introduce to her tank would get killed with a quickness.