What is the lifespan of my fish?
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. Keep in mind that with good care, aquarium fish can live much longer; on the other hand, fish that are not kept in the proper habitat and are not cared for properly will likely have a shorter lifespan.
What is the lifespan of different fish?
Many freshwater fish average about 1 to 3 years of life. Some of the more popular species with this short lifespan include fantail guppies, swordtail platy, mollies, rainbow fish, hatchet fish, corydoras catfish, some cichlids, rasboras and tiger barbs.
There are also several types of 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 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 years. The oldest reported goldfish actually lived into his 30s.