Md. Riday Khan

· 07 Dec 2021

Follow Following

How long do goldfish live?

The popular belief is that fish have a very short life expectancy and die in a very short time. This is so because, as a general rule, when they are kept in captivity, the conditions are not adequate, and the life expectancy of these animals is greatly shortened.

However, it is a false belief, as many fish have life expectancies that surprise many. And it is that well cared for and maintaining good water quality, many fish will last and keep us company for as long or more than a rabbit or a dog for example.

Most tetras usually have a life expectancy of between 4 and 7 years. Yes, neons and cardinals are also included in this group, and well cared for they can perfectly reach up to 5 years. The largest tetras can reach 7-8 years of life.

The corydoras have a life expectancy of about 7-10 years, with the smallest species (pygmies), the least long-lived (about 3-4 years), and the largest corydoras the ones that live the longest. In the photo, you can see a group of Sterbai Corydoras that I keep in my aquariums that are already 7 years old.

Orandas and telescopes (generally chubbier cold-water fish) also have a very long life expectancy, typically reaching 15 years if well cared for. In addition, well cared for, most reach sizes of about 20 cm WITHOUT counting the tail. And it is that these dwarfs that are normally bought small reach considerable dimensions.

Why don't my fish live so long for me?
That is the question to ask if our fish do not reach the typical life expectancy for their species on average.

Will your tetras die in less than 2 years? Coldwater fish don't survive you more than 3 years?

Would you see normal that dogs, instead of living 12-15 years, would die with 4 in a normal way? The answer would be a resounding no, and it would be necessary to analyze what it is that we are doing wrong.

The quality of the water.
If the fish die-off earlier than normal, the first thing you should ask yourself is if the water in your aquarium is okay.

Is the temperature correct for the species you keep?

And the pH? If you put species that require basic or neutral waters (with a pH of 7 and above) in acidic or very acidic waters, they will end up noticing it at the end. Guppies for example come from Central America, and all the fish that come from these areas generally live in rivers or waters with high hardness (the sea is close, and therefore there are more salts in the water normally). For this reason, many people have guppies with very little life expectancy because they have them in acidic and soft waters (with a pH of 6, guppies will live much less). To modify the water, there are special salts such as Seachem's Brackish salt, which is a spectacular compound to keep our viviparous animals in tip-top shape.

your great enemy
One of the main causes of fish not reaching their correct life expectancy, as we have seen before, is the quality of the water. And among the values ​​that most affect fish survival in the long term, are nitrate values (here we tell you how to keep fish healthier and the effects of nitrates on growth). In addition to causing the fish not to develop their correct size, grow poorly or get sick more easily, an excess of nitrates in the water will cause the fish to live much less than they should.

That is why biological filters must be perfectly cycled in aquariums and that, either through natural plants that consume nitrates, or through water changes or resins that absorb nitrates (there are few effective ones, but they are beginning to be seen on the market), nitrates have to be kept at bay as much as we can.

Life expectancy is something to keep in mind ...
And it is that you have to take into account the longevity of the fish to establish a good aquarium. We believe that, unless a better house is found for them, the animals that we have must be treated in the best way. And fish are not animals that will spend only "a little while" with us. They are animals that can accompany us for many years.

Everything has to be taken into account when setting up an aquarium because if you catch cold-water fish, you should know that you are going to have them as aquatic companions for a long time. And if you catch killifish, you have to get used to the idea that they are fish with very short life cycles.

#howlongdogoldfishlive
#longdogoldfishlive
#lifecyclegoldfish
#goldfish
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfish