Informal survey - How long do your fish live?

[Ddavis]

On my recent trip to Hawaii (the Big Island) I visited a couple of places that really demonstrate the belief of Hawaiians regarding individuals that keep Aquariums.


This is my generalization of the statements made by two individuals:
97% of fish collected for aquariums perish between 2-3 weeks from being collected.
The remainder of the fish will die in aquariums within the next two years.


After hearing this I mentioned that there is a definite flaw in the statistics because we have had fish that have lived more than 15 years. I have had one severe tank crash that killed nearly all of my fish but I have to say that I have gone more than a decade without a loss.


I know that there is no public information that tracks this type of information so I thought that it would be good to collect the information via an informal survey. For those of you who have had a fish longer than 5 years: What type of fish do you have and what is its current age?


As most of you know there is a big push to promote misinformation so that the aquarium inhabitants all of us maintain would be reduced if not eliminated in the future. I will be posting a similar thread on a few of the other boards that I visit. If you see a similar post on other boards feel free to comment there as well.

 

[MrDJeep123]

It's interesting that you bring this up. I came across this article. Summary:
In the study there were several fish to live for years.

So what does this data tell us? Well for one thing, fish can and do live much longer lives in captivity than in the wild, not surprising given the absence of predators (in most cases), the unlimited amount of food available and the lack of disease. It also tells us that when compared to public aquariums, hobbyists can and should be doing better with fish such as angelfish and butterflyfish than is often the case. The belief that keeping a fish alive for a year or two makes one a “successful” aquarist needs drastic revision, with advances in aquarium water quality maintenance, water motion, more naturalistic environments and diets, we all should and shall do better when it comes to the longevity of the fish in our care.

I personally have not had a tank at any great length. Mainly with moving around and the like. I would imagine that with great husbandry practices, we all can achieve the same as the results from the research.

 

[Karen]

I just set my tank up six or seven months ago so I don't have any longevity with anything yet, but I will be watching to see what type of answers you get here.

 

[wowkingjames]

I have a purple tang for 18 years and a black ocellaris clownfish for over 6 years.

 

[Ike]

On my recent trip to Hawaii (the Big Island) I visited a couple of places that really demonstrate the belief of Hawaiians regarding individuals that keep Aquariums.


This is my generalization of the statements made by two individuals:
97% of fish collected for aquariums perish between 2-3 weeks from being collected.
The remainder of the fish will die in aquariums within the next two years.


After hearing this I mentioned that there is a definite flaw in the statistics because we have had fish that have lived more than 15 years. I have had one severe tank crash that killed nearly all of my fish but I have to say that I have gone more than a decade without a loss.


I know that there is no public information that tracks this type of information so I thought that it would be good to collect the information via an informal survey. For those of you who have had a fish longer than 5 years: What type of fish do you have and what is its current age?


As most of you know there is a big push to promote misinformation so that the aquarium inhabitants all of us maintain would be reduced if not eliminated in the future. I will be posting a similar thread on a few of the other boards that I visit. If you see a similar post on other boards feel free to comment there as well.

Both are certainly exaggerations. However, it's probably not as big of an exaggeration as it should be... I would bet a pretty large sum of money that far less than half of all fish collected for the aquarium trade make it past a year.

 

[FL_Reefer]

The two individuals you were speaking with were obviously misinformed and had no idea what they were talking about. If this were the case then the importation of tropical fish would have been shut down a long time ago. I know people that have had fish in there aquariums for 10+ years. Not to be to negative here but this is the problem that is plaguing our hobby now. Misinformed people regurgitating facts that are untrue and have no ''proof'' to back it up.

 

[N1Husker]

I have been in the hobby for 6 years and I still have a couple of fish that were my original fish. All of the fish I currently have have been in the aquarium for well over a year except for one because he is a recent purchase. Captive fish don't have to worry about getting eaten and get use to the enviroment that they live in. As long as the system is maintained properly, captive fish can live a long time.

 

[Poseidon's Reef]

ive had my original damsel for 4 years, and other fish for 1-3 years, ive sold more than have ever died with me... i do believe, that fish with high risk mortality (cbb butterflies etc) should be left in the ocean, but for the most part, like everyones been saying, good husbandry will allow you to have your fish for a very long time.

 

[reefkeeper51]

I've had my Randall's Goby and Starcki Damsel for 5 years. I upgraded to a larger tank and added a purple tang, mystery wrasse, a melanarus wrasse pair, a flame hawk, and a pair of clownfish. Those fish have been with me for about 3 years. I hope to have them at least another 10 years!

 

[xroads]

My personal opinion after working in a LFS for 3+ years is that 90% of collected fish are dead within 2 years.

I wish it was different.

 

[Bad Company]

My personal opinion after working in a LFS for 3+ years is that 90% of collected fish are dead within 2 years.

I wish it was different.

I bet that is true. However I've read studies on wild game (grouse and pheasants) an the same is true for wild game. One could assume that the 90% mortality rate in two years might be the same or worse in the wild for many of the smaller species.

 

[MtlReef25]

I have my Dussumieri tang for over 4 years and ''she's'' just gorgeous! Also have a clarkii clownfish for 4 years now. I believe if you provide your fish with a suitable environment and they don't get sick, they can live for a long period of time...

 

[clownman87]

i had a coral beauty for almost 5 years before i sold it

 

[ReefCycle]

Freshwater I kept a female Dempsey cichlid for 17 years. I have a niger trigger for 10 years, a rescued yellow tang that survived a friends chiller explosion (picture white water at 95degrees) I discovered his yellow tang was alive and have had him for 12 years. Clown trigger is 8 powder blue tang is at 9 years. Also have a rescued hippo that was fed to much awful food and had poor water conditions and suffered lateral line erosion and is doing much better and almost all healed is at 14 years 9 with me. Multifasciatus is at 7 years. And countless others individual sucuss stories. Also worked at a lfs and ill agree some stores have better filtration and employee care, but if this numbers posted were true my old boss would be ******!

 

[ReefCycle]

Upset

 

[cpayne015]

i bought my first tank 3 and half years ago with yellow tang 2 clowns mystery wrasse damsel blue chromi and have yet to lose any of them and have added several fish. i have a naso tang that is approximately 8 inches and around 11 years old now. they are all homed in a 220 now