How long will my fish live?

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Lowryder

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Few reference books include one of the most common questions asked by fish owners. How long should my fish live? The answer varies greatly depending on the species of fish. However, in general smaller fish have a shorter lifespan than larger fish, and fish that lay eggs live longer than those that give birth to live young. The two most popular species of fish, Bettas and Goldfish are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Bettas live little more than two years, while Goldfish live for decades. Here is a reference with the expected lifespan of popular aquarium fish. These figures are estimates, with good care fish may live much longer.

Adolfos Cory - 5 years
Angelfish - 10+ years
Apistogramma - 3 to 5 years
Archer Fish - 5 years
Armored Catfish - 7 to 15 years
Bala Shark - 10 years
Bandit Cory - 5 years
Banjo Cat - 7 to 15 years
Banjo Catfish - 5 to 8 years
Betta - 2 to 3 years
Black-Banded Leporinus - 5+ years
Black Neon Tetra - 5 years
Black Phantom Tetra - 5 years
Black Shark - 4 to 10 years
Black Widow Tetra - 5 years
Blackfin Cory - 5+ years
Bleeding Heart Tetra - 5 years
Blindcave Fish - 5+ years
Bloodfin Tetra - 10+ years
Blue Gourami - 4 years
Boeseman's Rainbow - 5 years
Bolivian Ram - 4 years
Bronze Cory - 5 years
Cardinal Tetra - 4 years
Cherry Barb - 5 to 7 years
Chocolate Gourami - 4 years
Clown Loach - 15+ years
Columbian Tetra - 5 years
Congo Tetra - 5 years
Convict - 10 to 18 years
Debauwi Catfish - 8 years
Diamond Tetra - 5 years
Discus - 10 to 18 years
Dojo Loach - 10 years
Dwarf Gourami - 4 years
Emperor Tetra - 6 years
Festivum - 10+ years
Figure 8 Puffer - 5 years
Firemouth - 10 to 15 years
Frontosa - 8 to 15 years
Giant Danio - 5 to 7 years
Glassfish - 8 years
Glowlight Tetra - 5 years
Gold Barb - 5+ years
Goldfish - 10 to 30 years
Guppy - 3 to 5 years
Harlequin - 6 years
Hatchetfish - 5 years
Hog Nose Brochis - 10 years
Honey Gourami - 4 years
Jack Dempsey - 10 to 18 years
Jordan's Catfish - 10+ years
Killifish - 1 to 2 years
Kissing Gourami - 5 years
Kribensis - 5 years
Lake Kutubu Rainbow - 5 years
Lake Madagascar Rainbow - 5 years
Lake Wanam Rainbow - 5 years
Lemon Cichlid - 8 years
Lemon Tetra - 5 years
Leopard Danio - 5 to 7 years
Leporinus - 5+ years
Livingstoni - 10+ years
Marigold Swordtail - 4 years
Midas Cichlid - 15+ years
Mollie - 4 years
Moonlight Gourami - 4 years
Neon Rainbow - 3 to 4 years
Neon Tetra - 5 to 10 years
Oscar - 10 to 18 years
Otocinclus - 5 years
Pacu - 10 years
Pearl Danio - 5 years
Pearl Gourami - 4 years
Pictus Catfish - 8 years
Piranha - 10 years
Platy - 3 to 5 years
Pleco - 7 to 15 years
Powder Blue Gourami - 4 years
Rafael Catfish - 7 to 15 years
Rainbow Shark - 4 to 10 years
Rams - 4 years
Rasboras - 5 to 10 years
Red Bellied Piranha - 10 years
Red Eye Tetra - 5 years
Red Fin Shark - 8 years
Red Hook Silver Dollar - 10+ years
Red Rainbow - 5 years
Red Tailed Catfish - 15 years
Red Tuxedo Platy - 4 years
Red Wagtail Platy - 4 years
Rosy Barb - 5 years
Royal Pleco - 10+ years
Rummy Nose Tetra - 5+ years
Sailfin Molly - 3 years
Severum - 10+ years
Silver Dollar - 10+ years
Silver Pacu - 10 years
Silvertip Tetra - 5 years
Swordtails - 3 to 5 years
Texas Cichlid - 10+ years
Tiger Barb - 6 years
Tinfoild Barb - 10 years
Upside Down Catfish - 5 years
Weather Loach - 10 years
Whiptail - 10+ years
White Cloud Mountain Minnow - 5 to 7 years
Wimple - 20+ years
Yellow Tetra - 5 years
Zebra Cichlid - 10+ years
Zebra Danio - 5 years

I know there are some that are forgoten, so please add any that is missed.

Edit:Original article can be found at http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/beginnerinfo/a/lifespan.htm
 
It is, I thought this forum would benifit from the information. I will go back and give proper note.
 
They are very delicate. Even our LFS couldn't find anything other than maybe the ph. Even then they were doubtful because their water is the same as ours ph wise. They don't do anything special when for their tanks, we ran peat in ours.

I think I have some pics of their spawns in my albums under the 40g.
 
Nice list, thanks!!! Ill hit your rep when it lets me.

GBR's like the old established water, but they are pretty delicate
 
Some of my fish are reaching the end of their lifespans according to this. One is actually now within the range of its estimated life expectancy. :(

It really is shocking that I have some fish that I got 6 years ago, and they're still alive even though I waited until recently to educate myself on fish keeping. I must be lucky, I should go play the lottery. :p
 
Some of my fish are reaching the end of their lifespans according to this. One is actually now within the range of its estimated life expectancy. :(

It really is shocking that I have some fish that I got 6 years ago, and they're still alive even though I waited until recently to educate myself on fish keeping. I must be lucky, I should go play the lottery. :p

Ill split a ticket with you, we can open our own aquarium.
 
I am no expert, I just fancy myself a betta researcher LOL (ANNND slightly OCD ;)). I was on a betta forum (got hacked and now doesn't work), where I was able to learn a TON from a lady who kept/keeps bettas and breeds them. She has been doing that for 30+ years, and I hung on her every word. :D
 
Thanks for the list! I've always wanted something that would tell me the lifespan of fish. A lot of the fish profile websites have everything BUT the life span.
 
you forgot to mention.. this is a list for people who care enough to be on fish forums.. for everyone else (mr bag 'o' fish at the LFS) it's about a week lol
 
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