signs of old age in fish?

[i cant think]

My question is, how do you know when a fish is getting old other than how long you’ve had it against life span. I’ve had my Yasha Goby for 2 years comming March. I know their expected span is 2-3 years (Hoping mine hits close to the 2.5 year mark if not longer) but are there any signs that show if a fish is old. I have noticed my yasha has a different pattern to what I remember when I got him but also I think he has black dots but I’m unsure.

 

[LadyMac]

It may not be the same for all species, however I have a ~7 year old betta that has stopped eating. His water is fine, he’s healthy and active otherwise. Just doesn’t eat. I’ve offered everything. A breeder told me that usually is a good sign of them being old, and most will euthanize. I’m still holding out hope I can locate some baby brine shrimp to hatch and try that with him. That’s my last ditch effort.

 

[Jekyl]

2 or 3 years is a juvenile. People have fish over 20 years old

 

[i cant think]

2 or 3 years is a juvenile. People have fish over 20 years old

I’ve read that 2-3 years is the life span of Stonigobiops yasha, I’m aware most fish 2-3 years is a juvenile and most live for 20+ years however I was mainly wondering because I didn’t know if my yasha would be close to dead (Not a nice thing but it only recently occurred to me that in march it will be 2 years with me and I’m unsure if this was CB or WC).

 

[Daniel@R2R]

@Paul B knows a bit about fish reaching old age.

 

[Paul B]

I am pretty sure your gobi should live way longer than that. There are no fish with that short a lifespan with Bangai Cardinals having the shortest life span of the fish we normally keep. Even seahorses and pipefish live much longer than 3 years. I have some over 7 years old now.

 

[i cant think]

I am pretty sure your gobi should live way longer than that. There are no fish with that short a lifespan with Bangai Cardinals having the shortest life span of the fish we normally keep. Even seahorses and pipefish live much longer than 3 years. I have some over 7 years old now.

Thanks for the help!! It’s really reassuring to know I haven’t gotten highly attached to a fish that’ll die within a few years

 

[Paul B]

It may still die in a few years, but not from old age.

 

[Zionas]

I don’t know of that many people who manage to keep these gobies for a long time. On the other hand I’ve seen quite a few people keep Cryptocentrus shrimp gobies for a decade or more. Ask @Paul B
@McPuff has had his for like 17 years already and it’s never been paired with a pistol shrimp.

I think the fact that Yasha are a small species and we get them as adults, plus the fact that they’re even more shy and cryptic than the average Cryptocentrus goby means I can’t rule out cyanide. But I like to think since they’re small and we get them as adults they don’t have a very long lifespan to begin with compared to some other gobies.

 

[i cant think]

I don’t know of that many people who manage to keep these gobies for a long time. On the other hand I’ve seen quite a few people keep Cryptocentrus shrimp gobies for a decade or more. Ask @Paul B
@McPuff has had his for like 17 years already and it’s never been paired with a pistol shrimp.

I think the fact that Yasha are a small species and we get them as adults, plus the fact that they’re even more shy and cryptic than the average Cryptocentrus goby means I can’t rule out cyanide. But I like to think since they’re small and we get them as adults they don’t have a very long lifespan to begin with compared to some other gobies.

I’m hoping my three gobies live the issue is I don’t know if my yasha and hectors gobies are actually CB. My Clown Goby definitely isn’t a CB fish though, I really hope to keep all three of them longer and if I go for another stonogobiops shrimp goby it will be a CB yasha or black ray.

From what I’ve found, Yashas live to up to 3 years and rarely over.

It also seems that hectors gobies have a similar life span. I know Cryptocentrus have longer lifespans but from what I’ve read and seen, the smaller gobies that stay 2” or less seem to have 2-3 years worth of a life span. Stonogobiops, Gobiodon, Koumansetta, Evoita, ect… all seem to have much shorter life spans than a larger species of goby I.e. Cryptocentrus, Valenciennae, Ambyeleotris ect.

 

[i cant think]

I want to bump this back up and the reason why is because of my yasha. He’s past that 3 year mark however, I looked at the tank and he’s laying in the dip that his pistol shrimp has made (Yes I paired him up early October). Not only is he just laying there, he’s also breathing abnormally fast for this. Is it time to say goodbye?
I know signs of old age hit fast but he seemed fine on Tuesday and then yesterday I didn’t really see him eat but the rapid breathing is new to this morning.
Here’s an older photo from the 30th of October.

 

[i cant think]

I want to bump this back up and the reason why is because of my yasha. He’s past that 3 year mark however, I looked at the tank and he’s laying in the dip that his pistol shrimp has made (Yes I paired him up early October). Not only is he just laying there, he’s also breathing abnormally fast for this. Is it time to say goodbye?
I know signs of old age hit fast but he seemed fine on Tuesday and then yesterday I didn’t really see him eat but the rapid breathing is new to this morning.
Here’s an older photo from the 30th of October.

Here’s a video I got just before leaving.

 

[Dave1993]

i have had my midas blenny coming on 3 years in january he is still going strong his life span is ment to be 2-5 years

 

[i cant think]

I wanted to update this and say… I have lost my 3 year old Yasha Goby after a long lived life. Will be hunting another shrimp goby at some point.

 

[dedragon]

sorry for the loss, you gave it a good, well fed life and thats the best we can do as fish keepers. You even gave it a shrimp buddy that kept it company til its final days