Clownfish sick, or Dying from old age?

[n240sxle91]

I'm posting this here as I don't think I have much time left to take action. If this was the wrong place to post this I apologize.

I have a pair of Ocellaris Clownfish. The male I've had for about 20 years, and the female is about 18 years old. The 20 year old male started swimming/floating at the surface about 4 days ago. He looked like a fish that wasn't going to make it more than one more day. I figured I've had him for 20 years and he's had a good run. Another day went by and he's still alive, but still just floating at the surface knocking on heaven's door. Tonight I'm watching him and he's vertical with his mouth at the surface. If he is eating, I haven't seen it. I only let it go this far because I was sure his time was over.

There has been nothing added to the tank (360 gallon) in over 5 years, and nothing has changed. When I did add things to the aquarium (5 years ago), I used a very strict quarantine process. No other fish in the tank are sick, or showing signs of any problems, and all the tanks parameters are good.

At first I was thinking it had to be old age, and it very well is. However, the fact that he's now been doing this for 4 days makes me worry that I'm just letting him die from something else and that I should be doing something for him. Finally, if it is old age, should I just let him be, or should I euthanize him so he doesn't live any more days in hunger and pain?

Thank you for your advice and help on this.

 

[Zionas]

First of all, congrats! 20 years is a really long time and hearing a fish live this long serves as an inspiration for me. It could simply be old age ( how big was your male and female when you got them), IMO. If there’s no disease or anything, I think it’s just reached its time.

 

[n240sxle91]

The male has always been the same size since I got him (about 2 inches). The female was a friend's clownfish that he gave me when he left the hobby about 10 years ago.

Is it possible he got something lodged in his throat, so he's not eating and having trouble breathing? Right now he looks like he's trying to breath with his mouth from the surface. Ugh, it just makes me feel awful that it could be something other than old age and I'm just letting him die.

 

[Flippers4pups]

If there's no visible signs of illness, I'd let him live as long as he can.

 

[Zionas]

Agreed. Let him live for as long as he can.

 

[n240sxle91]

Thanks for your advice. I'll just keep monitoring him for now.