Aging Gracefully: How old is your oldest fish?

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

When we buy fish, we may not realize that some of the fish we buy will be with us for the long haul. Some fish only stick with us for a few years, while others live long enough to see the kids off to college...Of course, it may be hard to know exactly how old your oldest fish is (unless you were there to witness its entrance into the world), but if we are talking approximates...

How old is your oldest fish?

 

[timmyrules]

my oldest clown, Gilbert, is 1 and a half!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yellow tangs, 6+ years and cleaner wrasse 9+ years.

 

[Reefer2.0]

My hippo tang I purchased at petco about 10 years ago.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I’ve had my dogface puffer “Puffy” for 6 1/2 years, but he was 5” long when I got him. So probably closer to 10 years old total.

 

[DanyL]

My very first saltwater fish, 2 Percula clownfish are still with me, around 17 years later.

 

[Lavey29]

My very first saltwater fish, 2 Percale clownfish are still with me, around 17 years later.

That's awesome

 

[Tinnerito]

When we buy fish, we may not realize that some of the fish we buy will be with us for the long haul. Some fish only stick with us for a few years, while others live long enough to see the kids off to college...Of course, it may be hard to know exactly how old your oldest fish is (unless you were there to witness its entrance into the world), but if we are talking approximates...

How old is your oldest fish?

Is not saltwater, buy my oldest fish is my yoyo loach catfish at 6 years old. He somehow managed to survive not 1 but 2 incidents where bleach had gotten into the aquarium where every other animal in the tank dies, and I called them the tank's extinction periods.

 

[design.maddie]

My oldest is about 5-6 years of age now. He has survived tank crashes, moving houses, tank seals failing and aggressive fish. Blue/Green Chromis. He is getting a tank upgrade to a 90 gallon within the week. So happy for him.

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

my oldest fish isn't saltwater but shes a 6 year old Corydoras catfish

 

[temphermitcrab]

It's not a fish but we have a 12 y/o hermit crab named temporary - we weren't sure we would keep him.

 

[aquaman67]

I only have one left of my Clown pair I started my tank with in 2002. The male. The female went “missing” in the fall. I have a good clean up crew so I’m assuming they took care of her remains. I looked around the tank and didn’t find anything. I’m actually thankful I didn’t have to find her dead. That would have been rough.

 

[Tinnerito]

It's not a fish but we have a 12 y/o hermit crab named temporary - we weren't sure we would keep him.

Have you decided yet? :face-with-tears-of-joy:

 

[Chuck_e]

Tomini Tang @ 8.1/2 yrs & Yellow Tail Damsel @ 10 yrs...

 

[AstroMelly]

We started our saltwater tank about 3 and a half years ago and our first fish were our clown pair Stella and Miguel. They are a breeding pair now for about 2 years.
But our oldest fish is a Green Spotted Puffer from our freshwater days - I almost forgot about him! Piff is over 13 years old now and has moved house with us twice and survived a leaky tank while we were away on holiday for 2 weeks! He is very communicative and great fun.

 

[Reefering1]

I've had these 2 dang damsels for over 9 years now. Through thick and thin, I couldn't get them out. They were alone in tank for a year and were jerks to any new addition(in 180g). I caught all but these 2, tried starving them out for another year. They looked healthy as ever(still do). They have earned their place in the tank. Adding like 12 fish at once was the solution.

 

[Bruttall]

Had to go with Other as my Blonde Naso is about 13 inches long with streamers, but I have only had him for about 8 months.

 

[StewL6]

Clown pair bought in March 2008. Still laying eggs next to their anemone

 

[FishTruck]

Yellow tang... 17 years in my captivity, was a juvenile when I acquired the fish. Was a notorious murderer of other fish at one point.

 

[littlefoxx]

My oldest fish Ive ever had was Swimmy, a 19 year old goldfish. Got him in first grade as a baby and then lost him right before freshman year of college.

Right now is Ivar and Ghost, each 2 years old now!