How old is "old"

av8 · 01/03/2012, 04:42 PM

Hi folks.
My ocellaris clown is over 21 years old. I'm wondering what experiences any of you have had with longevity? What ages are your "old" marine fish?
john

Jsteffen · 01/03/2012, 07:19 PM

I have a Pygmy angel that is 8 years old.

Dragon moray ki · 01/03/2012, 09:35 PM

Well it's old enough to drink do you vodka dose yeah that's really old though

Reefing Newbie · 01/03/2012, 10:34 PM

That clownfish is older than me!

bullitr · 01/03/2012, 11:00 PM

My friend lemonpeel angel is 19 years old and it's been pass to so many reefers.

av8 · 01/03/2012, 11:38 PM

Yes, that's how I know how old he is. Its not like I though, when I got him (the fish), I better pay attention to when I'm getting this fish! I set up the tank when my son was born and he is going to be 22 this year.

av8 · 01/03/2012, 11:44 PM

No vodka... quite a few Guinness though ; )
Honestly, I have a healthy 55 and don't put any of the hundreds of products that so many manufacturers try to sell us. Things grow.... slowly. I feed the fish once every day or two. Just left town for four days, no feeding, no worries. Everyone is fine. I think most folks over dose, over feed, over everything.

NatureNerd · 01/04/2012, 12:18 AM

I have a similar story but, you got me beat. My pair of Occ clowns are 16 years old. I got them right after I was married. My wife helped pick them out.

I also take care of my tank the way it sounds like you do. No added chemicals, just kalk top off, and light feeding. Short trips require no tank sitters and no autofeeders.

Here is the old guy in his LTA. They still spawn every few months.

humaguy · 01/04/2012, 11:58 AM

blueface 15 years old...pinktail 9 years old..

mtaswt · 01/04/2012, 02:35 PM

I still hope I'm still interested in my tank after 21 years.......

Reefing Newbie · 01/04/2012, 03:14 PM

I can't wait to see how long my clowns live, 4 months old right now(only know because I picked them out from a local breeder). Hope to have them until they die, I will at least have a biocube or something in college so I can keep them.

Paul B · 01/04/2012, 03:25 PM

21 is an old fish, my oldest was 18 and I now have a fireclown about 17.
I never had one live 21 years.

av8 · 01/04/2012, 04:51 PM

@Paul B:
Looks like you are in the race for the oldest reef tank : )
My first marine tank was set up in 1977, but I've moved many times. I have a 10 gallon that has been up since 1992 or so. My 21 year old clown lived in it for several years. He started out in an 18 tall. I have never disturbed the deep sand bed (Jober with 1" plenum) in the 10. I can't even find crushed oyster shell these days, which comprises the bottom 1.5" of the 3 inch sand bed. The top 1.5" is Fiji pink. This little tank currently has 25+ pink tip anemones in it. Prolific they are! So when I hear folks talk about how you cannot be successful with "small" tanks, I just frown.

reefergeorge · 01/04/2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jsteffen

I have a Pygmy angel that is 8 years old.

That is great! My CB angel died at 7 yrs and from my research that is long lived for them.

didz04 · 01/04/2012, 07:48 PM

Thats truly amazing 21 years old. Do you know if he was tank bred and how big is he now?

He must have gone through a lot as you know what us reefers are like changing tank every few months or moving them on.

ejanastacio · 01/05/2012, 12:40 AM

Wow great job 21 years is a long time. My cousin bought a maroon clown 5 years ago that was said to be 17 years old and she finally passed away two months ago. Hopefully your clown has better luck since it's about the same age.

av8 · 01/05/2012, 01:14 AM

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm hoping "Marylin" who started life as Marlin has a few good years left in her. I'm wondering what "old age" and death from "natural causes" is for a captive bred and raised marine fish is?

Paul B · 01/05/2012, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Looks like you are in the race for the oldest reef tank : )

Oh No, a race. I am too old for a race now.

philter4 · 01/05/2012, 06:47 AM

Old is a relative term in fish, a neon goby only lives about 18 months in the wild and some live to 3 or 4 years in an aquarium so for a neon goby 2 years is old.

Paul B · 01/05/2012, 08:21 AM

That is true, I have some older pipefish, older than I guess would live in the sea.
I recently lost a pair of hermit crabs that were 13 years old, I have no idea how long they live in the sea and I doubt anyone else does either. But if you can get a small tropical fish to live 15 or 20 years we can consider that a long time.
Larger fish like carp can live over 40 years and sturgeon can live to 60 but I doubt most of the smaller fish will get that old.

ejanastacio · 01/05/2012, 01:13 PM

I remember seeing a thread in here where the longest known living clownfish was over 30 years.

GPB · 01/05/2012, 01:15 PM

My Ocellaris is just a babe at 6.

av8 · 01/05/2012, 05:02 PM

Looks like I'll never get to go on a long vacation

It is so difficult to find someone to tank sit that is qualified to deal with any problems that might (and usually do) arise.

av8 · 10/23/2015, 08:25 PM

Well, it's official. Not that Guinness book will recognize it. My clown is more than 25 years old. I set up the tank when my son was born. New baby, still like the wife ... Home a lot. So my son just had his 25th birthday.

She (Marilyn / was Marlin) healthy and happy, and lays an egg next every lunar cycle.

Never did I think, when I was 35 setting up a marine tank (not the first time) I'd still be dealing with this fish at the age of 61.

john

mcozad829 · 10/23/2015, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by av8

Well, it's official. Not that Guinness book will recognize it. My clown is more than 25 years old. I set up the tank when my son was born. New baby, still like the wife ... Home a lot. So my son just had his 25th birthday.

She (Marilyn / was Marlin) healthy and happy, and lays an egg next every lunar cycle.

Never did I think, when I was 35 setting up a marine tank (not the first time) I'd still be dealing with this fish at the age of 61.

john

That's actually a really inspirational post when you think of how much life has changed around you over the last 25 years and that fish has been a constant. Congrats on your success, perseverance, and endurance.

01/03/2012, 04:42 PM	#1
av8 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: southern Illinois Posts: 52	How old is "old" Hi folks. My ocellaris clown is over 21 years old. I'm wondering what experiences any of you have had with longevity? What ages are your "old" marine fish? john

01/03/2012, 09:35 PM	#3
Dragon moray ki Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,236	Well it's old enough to drink do you vodka dose yeah that's really old though __________________ "He who changes the water also picks the fish." MrTuskfish David aka sandy (ask the loungers.) Current Tank Info: 600 gallon Green moray tank connected to 400 gallon shark pond. 90 gallon mixed reef

01/03/2012, 11:00 PM	#5
bullitr broke but happy Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: stevenson ranch, ca Posts: 14,053	My friend lemonpeel angel is 19 years old and it's been pass to so many reefers. __________________ Lawrence SFVR member 435 gallon display in wall see through no more hyposalinity... Current Tank Info: 96x36x29 inwall

01/04/2012, 12:18 AM	#8
NatureNerd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 877	I have a similar story but, you got me beat. My pair of Occ clowns are 16 years old. I got them right after I was married. My wife helped pick them out. I also take care of my tank the way it sounds like you do. No added chemicals, just kalk top off, and light feeding. Short trips require no tank sitters and no autofeeders. Here is the old guy in his LTA. They still spawn every few months. __________________ Reef tanks since 1987. Current tank: 75g SPS dominated reef tank set up in 1996

01/04/2012, 02:35 PM	#10
mtaswt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 428	I still hope I'm still interested in my tank after 21 years....... __________________ Current Tank Info: 156g, 8 bulb ATI dimmable powermodule, led moonlights, PM 175 skimmer, 55g sump, Mag 18 return, 2x MP40's @ 75%, BRS dual reactor, ReefKeeper Elite, ATO, & 200 #'s of rock. 2 blood shrimp, 2 cleaner shrimp, 3 sexy shrimp, Oynx clowns (mated pair), purple & yellow tangs, red scooter blenny, breeding pair of Banggai Cardinalfish, Bartlett's Anthias, Maldives Lyretail Anthias, Labout's fairy wrasse, two spot goby, multiple corals (mostly lps), and counting......who said this hobby was cheap?

01/03/2012, 07:19 PM	#2
Jsteffen Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 10	I have a Pygmy angel that is 8 years old.

01/03/2012, 10:34 PM	#4
Reefing Newbie Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,435	That clownfish is older than me!

01/03/2012, 11:38 PM	#6
av8 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: southern Illinois Posts: 52	Yes, that's how I know how old he is. Its not like I though, when I got him (the fish), I better pay attention to when I'm getting this fish! I set up the tank when my son was born and he is going to be 22 this year.

01/03/2012, 11:44 PM	#7
av8 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: southern Illinois Posts: 52	No vodka... quite a few Guinness though ; ) Honestly, I have a healthy 55 and don't put any of the hundreds of products that so many manufacturers try to sell us. Things grow.... slowly. I feed the fish once every day or two. Just left town for four days, no feeding, no worries. Everyone is fine. I think most folks over dose, over feed, over everything.

01/04/2012, 11:58 AM	#9
humaguy Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Western Ct, NYC Posts: 8,218	blueface 15 years old...pinktail 9 years old..

01/04/2012, 03:14 PM	#11
Reefing Newbie Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,435	I can't wait to see how long my clowns live, 4 months old right now(only know because I picked them out from a local breeder). Hope to have them until they die, I will at least have a biocube or something in college so I can keep them.

01/04/2012, 03:25 PM	#12
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	21 is an old fish, my oldest was 18 and I now have a fireclown about 17. I never had one live 21 years. __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

01/04/2012, 04:51 PM	#13
av8 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: southern Illinois Posts: 52	Oldest reef tank? @Paul B: Looks like you are in the race for the oldest reef tank : ) My first marine tank was set up in 1977, but I've moved many times. I have a 10 gallon that has been up since 1992 or so. My 21 year old clown lived in it for several years. He started out in an 18 tall. I have never disturbed the deep sand bed (Jober with 1" plenum) in the 10. I can't even find crushed oyster shell these days, which comprises the bottom 1.5" of the 3 inch sand bed. The top 1.5" is Fiji pink. This little tank currently has 25+ pink tip anemones in it. Prolific they are! So when I hear folks talk about how you cannot be successful with "small" tanks, I just frown.

01/04/2012, 07:48 PM	#15
didz04 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: UK Posts: 248	Thats truly amazing 21 years old. Do you know if he was tank bred and how big is he now? He must have gone through a lot as you know what us reefers are like changing tank every few months or moving them on.

01/05/2012, 12:40 AM	#16
ejanastacio Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 168	Wow great job 21 years is a long time. My cousin bought a maroon clown 5 years ago that was said to be 17 years old and she finally passed away two months ago. Hopefully your clown has better luck since it's about the same age.

01/05/2012, 01:14 AM	#17
av8 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: southern Illinois Posts: 52	going on 22 Thanks for all the feedback. I'm hoping "Marylin" who started life as Marlin has a few good years left in her. I'm wondering what "old age" and death from "natural causes" is for a captive bred and raised marine fish is?

01/05/2012, 06:47 AM	#19
philter4 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: sunrise fl Posts: 1,497	Old is a relative term in fish, a neon goby only lives about 18 months in the wild and some live to 3 or 4 years in an aquarium so for a neon goby 2 years is old. __________________ Life is short, buy fish Current Tank Info: 1 fish and 1 reef new 24 gal current nano

01/05/2012, 08:21 AM	#20
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	That is true, I have some older pipefish, older than I guess would live in the sea. I recently lost a pair of hermit crabs that were 13 years old, I have no idea how long they live in the sea and I doubt anyone else does either. But if you can get a small tropical fish to live 15 or 20 years we can consider that a long time. Larger fish like carp can live over 40 years and sturgeon can live to 60 but I doubt most of the smaller fish will get that old. __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

01/05/2012, 01:13 PM	#21
ejanastacio Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 168	I remember seeing a thread in here where the longest known living clownfish was over 30 years.

01/05/2012, 01:15 PM	#22
GPB Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 633	My Ocellaris is just a babe at 6. __________________ It is what it is! Current Tank Info: Oceanic 37g cube, AquaC Remora Skimmer, 6 x T5 ligts, SSB, 10g sump, GFO, GAC, Polyfilter

01/05/2012, 05:02 PM	#23
av8 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: southern Illinois Posts: 52	Holy cow: 30 years old? Looks like I'll never get to go on a long vacation It is so difficult to find someone to tank sit that is qualified to deal with any problems that might (and usually do) arise.

10/23/2015, 08:25 PM	#24
av8 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: southern Illinois Posts: 52	Well, it's official. Not that Guinness book will recognize it. My clown is more than 25 years old. I set up the tank when my son was born. New baby, still like the wife ... Home a lot. So my son just had his 25th birthday. She (Marilyn / was Marlin) healthy and happy, and lays an egg next every lunar cycle. Never did I think, when I was 35 setting up a marine tank (not the first time) I'd still be dealing with this fish at the age of 61. john

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