Life expectancy of a clownfish?

[JPM San Diego]

Regarding the comment that 10 gallons is too small for a pair of clown fish.
My thoughts: it entirely depends on the species of clownfish. Larger clowns need larger tanks.
My tomato clown pair occupied a 40 gallon tank and still terrorized their neighbors.
My ocellaris clown pair lived, and repeatedly spawned, for years in a 10 gallon tank (which they had to themselves)

 

[i cant think]

Dang… the life expectancy of these fish are long, wonder if 20+ years down the line I’ll have swapped some of my fish out, hmmm..

 

[Kennji]

The older the pair the better, buy from breeders with long lived lines. That is probably the only way to ensure long lived and high quality fish with good genetics. That or some young wild caught clowns to bring back some genetic diversity into the gene pool. I would stay far away from the newer clown fish morphs UNLESS they were outcrossed with a long lived line or wild blood. I wouldn’t support or condone their breeding practices if they aren’t aiming for long lived and healthy specimens.

 

[MIKE NY]

I got got a pair of Perculas when my friend lost his tank when Hurricane Sandy struck(2012). He said they were 15 yo then. I still have one …..

 

[Zionas]

Going on 25 years is pretty darn good. You have any other “super aged” fish?

 

[MIKE NY]

Going on 25 years is pretty darn good. You have any other “super aged” fish?

Yes….the PBT in my avatar was 17 when I lost it….