How Long Do Fish Live?

[garyl]

My yellow tang died yesterday. He'd been looking a little thin for the past couple of months and to be honest, I knew he was on his way out. I bought him with a Purple and Hippo back in 1999, so that would mean he'd been in my tank for about 8 years.

I have a pair of clowns that I've had for at least 9 years. They stopped breeding about 18 months ago, so I'm going to assume that they're past their prime and ready for the fishy equivalent of an old age home.

My Hippo and Purple tangs still look good; but it got me wondering... How long do fish live in our little slices of the ocean?

Gary

 

[Greg Hiller]

I've heard of clowns living 20 years. Powder blue tang as well.

 

[garyl]

Thanks, Greg.

It's funny, my Purple Tang still has the black nose freckles that I always associated with juvenile coloring. Hopefully, he'll still be around for another 10 years...

Gary

 

[MAReefer1]

I think the NEAQ has fish that are well over 10 years of age.

 

[JeremyR]

We have alot of fish in the 8+ range.. including some little yellow tail damsels that we've had 9 years.. they look the same as when we got them.

 

[MAReefer1]

We have alot of fish in the 8+ range.. including some little yellow tail damsels that we've had 9 years.. they look the same as when we got them.

lol damsels

when you say they look the same as when you got them, same size?

 

[JeremyR]

Yeah, they grew some but they don't get very big. But they are still the same vibrant color, still bite the hand that feeds.. no signs of being "old".

 

[MAReefer1]

thats funny!

 

[smcnally]

We have alot of fish in the 8+ range.. including some little yellow tail damsels that we've had 9 years.. they look the same as when we got them.

Jeremy, the devil just replaces them with new little bastards each day. That's why they're indestructible.