Tiger Conch life span

alysak6075 · Sep 17, 2021

What is the general tiger conch life span. I've had mine for 7 years, it did not grow at all, already got him as an adult.
Havent changed anything in the tank in over a year. Did have a spike in Alk about 4 months ago?
Is 7 years reasonable for an adult conch?

JumboShrimp · Sep 18, 2021

Wow, 7 years-- nice! Whenever I get a Conch I figure if it lasts a year, doing its job in my tank, I got my money's worth-- and 2-3 years would be cool. :)

Isopod80 · Sep 18, 2021

alysak6075 said:
What is the general tiger conch life span. I've had mine for 7 years, it did not grow at all, already got him as an adult.
Havent changed anything in the tank in over a year. Did have a spike in Alk about 4 months ago?
Is 7 years reasonable for an adult conch?

I've heard of conchs living up to 10 years in some tanks. In the wild some conch species can live 30 years or more.

alysak6075 · Sep 18, 2021

Isopod80 said:
I've heard of conchs living up to 10 years in some tanks. In the wild some conch species can live 30 years or more.

Hmm.. thats not great than. I wonder if the alk spike did him slowly in. bummer :(

Craig Martin · Mar 23, 2023

I was of the thought to expect several years of life span of my conch when I purchased it. (125 dt with 30 gals in a 40 gal sump) It's now been around 9 years and I came online to get a better feel for it's anticipated life span.... I read one article the large queen conchs in the ocean live nearly 30 years, but mine is the small 2 inch (50mm) smooth shell variety. *confirming in-part Isopods statement.

revenant · Oct 29, 2025

I've had 3 tiger conches for 5 years now and I added two more to the group when I upgraded to a much larger 8 foot tank last year... I see 3 of them fairly regularly.. I saw 4 the other day... last time I saw all 5 was more than a month ago.. but they like to stay buried sometimes for days... I think they're all still alive though.

I load up two nori clips daily when the lights come on and once the fish have had their go on them I move them to the bottom for the inverts... the conches & snails are regular visitors there... the fish still nibble on them when the clips are at the bottom too.. I've been increasing the nori sheet size I put on the clips to ensure everyone gets to eat well. I hope I get 7 or 8 or 9 years from these guys.. I love them!