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Fish are great pets, and, depending on the species, can be a friendly companion for a long time. Compared to a dog, cat or even lizard, fish require much less attention. An aquarium can bring a calming feeling to any home, yet requires constant cleaning and care. A good fish owner can let his pet live for years, some species can live for decades.
Here are some of the longest-lived fish species that are also popular pets. Different species require different needs, so learning how to properly care for your fish can dramatically extend its life.
10. Midas Cichlids 10 to 12 years
Midas cichlid is native to Central America, most common in lakes and large bodies of water in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. They are large fish that can grow to about 25 to 35 cm in length. The colors include brown, gray and black with a bar pattern. The bar pattern disappears when in a aquarium habitat, and they are usually solid in color in captivity. A variety of color variants of this species also exist due to selective breeding.
They are easily kept as pets and can live up to 12 years if cared for properly. They are omnivores and need to feed several small amounts per day. This species is highly susceptible to toxins in the water, so their aquarium should circulate about 20 to 35% of its water weekly. Midas cichlids should be kept alone because of their aggressive nature, but can also be kept in pairs. Larger tanks are best for this species around 200 gallons.
9. Frontosa 8 to 15 years
The frontosa is a cichlids species native to East Africa in Lake Tanganyika. For most of the day, this fish lies at the bottom of its water source and gets up every morning to feed on vegetation. They can grow up to 30 cm and have a large hump on top of their head. Color includes a black or white body with dark vertical bars running vertically on it.
When kept in an aquarium, only larger species should be housed with the frontosa, as they have an aggressive nature. Tanks should be at least 70 gallons and filtered regularly. Their bright colors and large size make them a good show fish. When kept in a large tank and properly cared for, they can live up to 15 years.
8. Firemouth 10 to 15 years
Firemouth cichlids are a freshwater species that is perfect for first-time fishing enthusiasts. Like other cichlid species, this fish has a long lifespan, able to live up to 15 years. Bright colors and easy care routines make this a popular species to keep as a pet. Originally from Central America, they inhabit rivers in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. In the US, they are considered invasive and can be found in Hawaii, Arizona, and Florida.
This species reaches about 17 cm (7 in) and needs a tank size of about 15 gallons, more if not left alone. Like all cichlids, they are territorial and will become aggressive towards other fish if not given enough space. Infections such as ich disease are common in this species, but are easily treated.
7. Catfish 15 years
Catfish in the wild can have an extremely long lifespan, but not everyone is suited to aquarium life. There are more than 3,000 catfish species divided into 36 families.
Here are some of the best catfish pets with the longest lives:
- Red-tailed catfish 15 years
- Armored Catfish 15 years
- Rafael Catfish 7 to 15 years
- Jordans Catfish 10+ years
- Banjo Catfish 12 years
Often catfish have no scales and have whisker-like barbs around their mouths. The above species of catfish are all small and will fit in a home sized aquarium. Fresh water filtered daily is best for keeping them alive the longest. Most catfish are scavengers and eat plants or meat. Fresh meats such as worms, shrimp and sliced fish are best.
6. Clown Loach 15+ years
Clown loach is a popular fish among fish owners and is loved for its bright colors and longevity, sometimes exceeding 15 years. This peaceful fish has an orange body with black stripes and red fins. When fully grown, they are about 20 to 30 cm long. Their natural habitat is on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. They live in fresh water, but can also live in brackish water. Worms, born shrimp and snails are delicious foods, they are best fed several small meals a day. The clown loach is active day and night, unlike others loach species that are mainly nocturnal. Keeping their aquarium clean and well filtered will allow this species to thrive and live a long life.
5. Figure 8 puffer fish 15+ years
Figure 8 puffer fish (Tetraodon biocellatus) is perfect for beginners and can live up to 15 years if cared for properly. Originally from South Asia, they live in brackish waters such as rivers near coastal areas. Breeding of this species is not done in captivity, so most of these pets are imported from areas such as Thailand or Malaysia. Figure 8 puffer fish can live in fresh water, but will have a longer lifespan if placed in a brackish water tank.
When fully grown, about 8 cm long, they are a greenish-yellow color with brown spots covering their backs. Puffer fish hunt and feed on organisms such as mussels, clams, oysters and krill in the wild. A flake diet is not recommended as they will live longer if fed frozen meats and other fresh foods.
4. Oscar Fish 10
t
o 18 years
Oscar fish is a member of the cichlid family and is a popular pet kept in freshwater aquariums. They originally came out South America, found in the Amazon River. Today they inhabit many aquariums around the world and can live up to two decades. In some areas they have become invasive as they are sometimes released into the wild from the aquarium. Their diet may consist of meat as they are a predatory species in the wild. Vitamin C is needed to keep them healthy, as in the wild they will feed on fruits that have fallen into the water. Oscar fish have stocky and oval-shaped bodies. They are black with red or orange colors on them. Oscar fish are loved for their intelligence, but you have to be wary of keeping them with other fish because of their aggressive nature.
3. Discus 10 to 18 years
Found in the lakes and rivers native to South America, the discus fish is a popular species kept as pets. They are less commonly owned due to their diet and habitat they require. Discus needs warmer water that should be changed weekly. They can grow large and require a tank of at least 75 gallons. They are calm by nature but can be aggressive as they are also cichlids. High temperatures and low pH are required as their preferred water type.
Discus is a trophy fish and comes in a variety of bright colors such as orange, blue-yellow, and red. Patterns vary as some can be solid colored and others painted with a striped pattern. These fish are notoriously difficult to keep, but if properly cared for, they can live as long as 18 years.
2. Goldfish 10 to 25 years
One of the most popular and recognizable pet fish is the goldfish. This species is found all over the world, is native to East Asia and is a member of the carp family. Kept in captivity and in local ponds, the goldfish was first kept in Imperial porcelain and selectively bred for its bright colors. Today, they are still selectively bred and come in many different varieties.
Some of the types of goldfish found today include:
- Ordinary goldfish
- Telescope Goldfish
- heavenly eye
- Comet tail goldfish
- at the rate
- Pearlscale
- Lionchuss
When kept in small tanks, goldfish stay small and never grow more than 6 inches (15 cm). Slow-moving freshwater habitats are where they can be found in the wild up to two feet in length. Keeping a clean aquarium, a good diet and an interactive environment can keep this species alive for up to 25 years. 45 years is the longest lifespan of this fish ever.
1. Koi fish 20 to 25 years
Koi carp are a popular carp species with a low maintenance routine. Native to the Black, Caspian, and Aral Seas, they have been domesticated and introduced to areas around the world. Their gentle nature, beautiful colors and easy care routine make them one of the most popular fish species to keep as pets. Originating from China, they were brought to Japan as a gift of food and slowly became a popular species in the culture. The average height is between 24 and 36 inches and weighs about 35 pounds. Jumbo Koi have also been bred with the largest up to 91 lbs.
Brightly colored some of the most common varieties are bright orange, white, yellow black and red. In the wild, this color makes them more susceptible to predators such as cats, birds, and raccoons. This species can live up to 25 years on average if properly cared for, but some cases have shown koi to be capable of extreme old age. The longest to ever live in captivity is Hanako, where she lived for 226 years.
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