How long do they live?

[goldenpuon]

As most of you know I'm sure, I keep guppies, goldfish and bettas.

But thinking back to what I know about them, the lifespans I heard they have seem to have a lot of variation.

I have heard their lifespans were the following:

Guppies: 1 1/2 - 3 years
Bettas: 2-4 years
Goldfish: About 10-20 years with good care

Since there is so much variation in these statistics, I was wondering if someone could narrow down how long these fish live for me, what is mosty average. And who knows, I might have the wrong info on how long they live.

Thanks!

Renee

[Carl]

Your numbers are what I have noticed plus also fit with feedback over the years.

IMO it would be difficult to narrow this much more as there are too many variables such as tank (or pond size) size, filtration, diet, and especially genetics.

For instance with goldfish, I have seen pond comets last over 15 years and more while I rarely have seen many live past 10 years in aquariums. Throw in genetics from poorly reared "feeders" and even with the best care keeping them past 7 years is quite an accomplishment.

One of my largest controlled tests I performed about 15 years ago involved goldfish with different filters, diet, with and without UV Sterilization, strict control of water parameters including GH, KH and at the time what I did know about Redox (at this time Redox was the variable I "accidentally stumbled upon and there was not enough good outside research to explain my results other than the common anecdotal aquarium hobby information that still sadly persists on this subject.

The Aquarium Disease Prevention Article is an outgrowth from this study.

Carl

[goldenpuon]

Thanks Carl. I guess it is too difficult to tell.

As far as my fish's lifespans, my guppies typically live a year- 1 1/4 years, bettas about 1 1/2 years and the goldfish, my oldest are 4 years old and I haven't lost any yet. This is including Puon who is recovering. (That is aside from those those died from 2003-2005 when I was new to fishkeeping.)

Please keep in mind all of my guppies and bettas are fish bought from Petsmart or are descended from Petsmart fish so they aren't good genetics wise. Also, this is only an average, one live longer, some shorter.

Thanks for the info though Carl. I didn't know it was this hard to tell lifespans.

[bikeguy33]

lifespans are an odd one....i seldom see fish live to their full potential. in an aquarium....these fish seldom last half their potential

[goldenpuon]

So what you are saying, that say guppies that are supposed to live 1 1/2 to 3 years seldom reach 1 1/2 years of age? And the same with other fish species?

[murdock6701]

I have a male platy that's over 4 years old, probably closer to 5.....

[bikeguy33]

not in all cases....but in particular, fish over 6" or so

[goldenpuon]

Thanks for the info guys. I guess there truly is no set time.

[danny]

over the internet,i often read that iridescent shark lives upto 10years,and yet i had one who just died last year,it was 12 years old.he lived in horrific conditions(i know nothing about fish back then).it died 3months earlier before i started in the hobby.although it died in a pond in his last 2 years.sorry a bit off topic.hehe!