What is the generally average life expectancy of tropical fish if kept clean and healthy??

Question

What is the generally average life expectancy of tropical fish if kept clean and healthy AND how can i make my fish live to there full maxuim life expectancy??

Answer 1

With proper diet, water change and other average care by a hobbyist, the life of a fish still varies depending on the species. Many freshwater fish average about 1 to 3 years of life. Some of the more popular species with this short life span include fantail guppies, swordtail platy, mollies, rainbow fish, hatchet fish, corydoras catfish, some cichlids, rasboras and tiger barbs.

There are also several fish that live around 3 to 5 years, with proper care and feeding. These fish include betas, kissing gourami, zebra danios and Jack Dempsey.

If you are looking for a fish that will be around for up to 10-15 years, think about neon tetras, angelfish, Oscars and plecostomus.

The longest lived of all the popular freshwater fish is the goldfish. If provided proper feeding and a clean, healthy environment, these fish can live up to 15-20 years. The oldest reported goldfish actually lived into his 30s.

Answer 2

look into a hight quality filter. It also depends on the fish you have but if you have messy fish than get a filter that is more powerful and designed for a bigger tank. You don't need to go with a 60 gallon filter for a 60 gallon tank I use two 60 gallon filter for my tank and it makes a big difference. Bottom feeders and sucker fish also help. You need to do a 10% water chance once a week and there is no way to avoid that.

Answer 3

Very variable, but 1-5 years on average. Cichlids tend to live longer. Some of the larger cats can live quite a long time. I have a lungfish I got as an adult over 15 years ago, and he is still growing. Small frequent partial water changes is the most important factor in keeping fish healthy in my opinion. Use a good heater so you do not get temerature fluctuations, and feed a variety of foods. Best of luck!

Answer 4

Good filtration, regular maintenance, weekly water changes and regular water checks (Nitrite and Ammonia) and not to over feed are all the things you can do as a keeper to give your fish the best chance.
Some species have short life spans, like the male Siamese Fighter which will only live 18 months - 2 years on average. Some varieties like rainbows can easily live 10 - 15 years if kept in good conditions. Obviously there's hundreds of different varieties which will vary but in my experience a lot of general tropical fish should live from 3 - 8 years depending on what they are.

Answer 5

3-5 years

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

its not just keeping them clean its miking sure that your tank does not get infected i have tropical fish and have lost many to infection but if you can keep on top of it all some fish can live for up to 10 -15 years

Answer 8

Life expectancy will vary with the species - this can be anywhere from 2-3 years to 3+ decades.

The best way to have them live a long, healthy life is to do your research! Find fish that are compatible with the conditions you can provide the easiest. If you're constantly changing pH, hardness, temperature, etc. not only are you doing a lot of added work, but you're putting extra stress on the fish. Also, you need to find fish that are compatible with each other. Neons and angelfish may look nice together when young, but someone's gonna be dinner eventually!

Set up a proper sized tank based on the type, number, and adult sizes of the fish you intend to keep. Understocking (fewer fish or larger tank) is even better. Get a properly sized filter (should filter 5 - 10 times your tank volume every hour - check gph rating, used combined ratings if using more than 1 filter) and heater(s) (3-5 watts per gallon depending on tank size and amount the temperature needs to increase). It's always better to go up a size and spend some money on the filter and heater rather than buying the cheapest brands available.

Cycle your tank. This establishes a population of beneficial bacteria that will convert toxic compounds (ammonia & nitrite) to nitrate. The cause of most fish deaths in a new tank is ammonia poisoning.

Find out from your water source (if you use tap water, which is easiest & cheapest) what is used - chlorine or chloramine - to "disinfect" the water and use appropriate drops and dosage or let sit for 24 hrs (chlorine only) before adding it when your fish are in the tank. Try to match the temperature as close as possible to that in the tank. If your house has an old water heater or copper pipes, it best not to use hot water - there can be a small amount of metal dissolved in the water as it sits in these areas that will accumulate in your tank and become toxic (usually plants & inverts will be affected first).

Select healthy stock. A privatly owned fish store may or may not be better than one of the pet chains. But look a fish over for signs of disease and abnormal behavior before you buy it. Also look at the condition of the other fish in the tank. A "new" one may look healthy, but if his tankmates have a parasite or bacterial or fungal infection, it would be risky to assume it's not in the early stage of infection itself. If you see something you absolutely MUST have, ask if you can put a payment down and pick the fish up in a few days. Come back and check it's health then before deciding to take it home.

When you add fish, acclimate them to your home's water by floating their bags for 15 minutes to adjust the temperature. Open the bag and pour 1/4 of the water with the fish into a bucket. Replace with water from the tank, and wait a few minutes. Do this 3-4 times so your fish adjusts to the new water chemistry. Net the fish and add to the tank - never put water from the bag with the fish in your tank - you cn get all sorts of "surprises"!. You can also acclimate using a drip system, which is even more gradual and recommended for sensitive species. Even better, set up a quarantine tank for your fish. This allows you to prevent existing fish from contracting something contagious that may not be evident yet on/in your new fish.

Do regular tank maintenence. This includes scraping algae, partial water changes (20-30% is usually all that's necessary), checking & cleaning equipment (heaters, filters, powerheads), replacing parts, hoses, filter media, etc. as necessary. Do, and keep records of water tests for pH, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Once your tank is established and cycled, you should only have to monitor pH and nitrates on a regular basis. If you get a bad algae outbreak, phosphorous should be monitored. The rest should only need done when you are first setting up and if/after you've used medications in the tank that will affect your bacteria.

Don't overfeed - only give what your fish will eat in 2-3 minutes 2x a day. If food is left in the tank after 2 minutes, net it out. Feed a variety of food (one good "staple" pellet or flake food, plus a variety of treats that include frozen/thawed fish food or fresh veggies, or live as appropriate for you fish). Giving a mix gives your fish a better mix of nutrients and keeps them from getting bored with their diet.

Read up on common diseases and conditions. Know the symptoms and treatments so you don't add a chemistry lab of stuff to the tank if one of your fish comes down with something! Natural methods (temperature, foods, fasting, and salt) are best, but not always effective.

And lastly - don't forget to take time to watch and enjoy your tank. You'll get to know the fish and their behavior, and will be more likely to catch some problem in the early stages when it can be remedied more easily.

Whew! There was another question on here about how some of us should write a book - I feel like I just did! lol! If you've stayed with me so far, you must like reading about fish/aquaria. Here are some websites you can bookmark for future reference - some of these have more specific info on the life spans of different fish species:

http://www.fishlore.com/
http://www.firsttankguide.net/
http://freshwater.fanatics.googlepages.com/
http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/
http://www.freshwater-aquarium-fish.com/
http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/stressdisease.shtml
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ich.php
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/
http://www.aquariumlife.net/
http://www.peteducation.com/index.cfm?cls=16

Good luck with the tank!

Answer 9

about 10-15 years or above

BY FISH EXPERT

Answer 10

Destiny decides how long they will live.