Longest Time You Have Ever Had One Fish

Gumbies R Us · Feb 1, 2023

Sometimes I hear about people who will have a fish that lives 10+ years. I am wondering what is the longest time a fish has been in your tank.

DanyL · Feb 1, 2023

I have 2 Clownfish Perculas that I got as my very first saltwater fish, 15 years ago when I first got into the hobby.
They went through 2 tank transfers (34.5g > 132g > 206g), and one move.
At some point they laid eggs so often that they killed our precious Goni (when they were still hard to get and grow).

Here is a pic of them hosting my Sarcophyton (apologies for the old pic. It's from 2016 from my previous tank, only one I found where you can see them clearly):

Cthulukelele · Feb 1, 2023

One of my first fish 4 1/2 years ago was a yellow watchman goby. Only fish to survive a week-long power outage around a year ago. Still healthy and spry! Hoping I get at least another 4 1/2 with the little guy

Lineatus · Feb 1, 2023

My all black clown turned 11 this year. Got a pair from an old friend back when I was still a member of my local club. They must’ve been only 3-4 weeks old. They both somehow held on whilst I was finding my feet in the hobby, even surviving a tank crash that wiped out everything expect for them and a watchman goby. One time the female jumped behind the tank stand. Somehow surviving for around 15 minutes in a pile of dust whilst I attempted to drag her out with a stick lol.

Sadly she flipped on her mate of 8 years overnight. Mortally wounding the poor thing whilst I was away. Sad, would’ve loved to have bred them.

Heres a picture of her during my most recent tank move.

Susan Edwards · Feb 1, 2023

I have a clown and a yellow tail damsel since 2017 and my first tank. Both survived velvet! back then. They are in their 3rd tank now

KING KONG · Feb 1, 2023

I had a selfin tang which lived for 12 yrs before I mess with my water, cinnamon clownfish for 9 yrs before it died from brook,blue velvet demsel which I also hv today from 8 yrs. I think as your tank matures, your fish's life extends.

legionofdoon · Feb 1, 2023

My blue green chromis was about 17 and survived multiple moves. Sadly he just passed away. My clown is 11. She's pretty mean sometimes gets put into time out in the refugium lol.

MtnDewMan · Feb 2, 2023

I had these two in my care for 25 years

Female:

Male:

ZoWhat · Feb 2, 2023

I believe I have frozen fish sticks in my freezer from 2002

FreshSaltH2o · Feb 2, 2023

My eel is going on 25 he’s been through a lot sadly I think it’s almost the end

bstodds15 · Feb 2, 2023

Not super impressive, but I currently have a tank with a 5-6 year cherub angel and Wyoming White Clown.
Not sure how old the Cherub was when I got it, but have had it since 2017/18.
The Wyoming white was small killed it's mate in the smaller tank but has been bonded with a Photon Black for 2 years now.

They both survived a move/tank upgrade as well. I don't think they'd die if I wanted them to.

UK softy bloke · Feb 3, 2023

Gumbies R Us said:
Sometimes I hear about people who will have a fish that lives 10+ years. I am wondering what is the longest time a fish has been in your tank.

A pair of common clowns 18 years, bicolor angel 10 and a pair of green chromis 6 years.

Reeftanktraveler · Feb 3, 2023

I have 2 clowns, a blue chromis and yellow tang that are all over 12 years old. Not sure how long the first owner had them before I took them. I just lost another chromis and a six line wrasse after I had them for 11 years. The yellow tang had and still has HLLE for the 12 years I’ve had him and hes fat, active, happy and going strong.

JC1977 · Feb 3, 2023

When I got back into the hobby 5 years ago I had a really rough start lost all my fish to velvet. Anyhow I was almost at my wits end ready to hang it up again and I saw this guy in the pet store only about 3” Red Sea sailfins were always my favorite. By this point my tank had been fallow for almost 3 months so I rolled the dice and took him home. Told myself if he dies I’m quitting the hobby. Well four years later he’s going strong almost 6” now and he single-handedly saved the hobby for me. I named him Chuck lol.

JC1977 · Feb 3, 2023

I’m hoping one day I can say he’s 15 years old!

Mirkus · Feb 3, 2023

I've have a 17 year old tomato clown and a 14 year old blue-green chromis

salty joe · Feb 3, 2023

FreshSaltH2o said:
My eel is going on 25 he’s been through a lot sadly I think it’s almost the end

What kind of eel?
I had a snowflake for 11 years that was going strong until he found a way out of the tank, broke my heart.

Jbell370 · Feb 3, 2023

No idea how old they really are, but my Coral Beauty and a few various damsels have been with me since 2014, most of the others in my current tank Regal Angel, Pygmy Angel, Black Tang, Mimic Tang and Chevron since 2016 or so. The Gem tang since 2019 if I recall and the newest members Copper Band and Blue Star Wrasse 2021.