can you tell the age of a coral or a fish

brandoniscool · 02/24/2014, 01:55 PM

hi my name is sherell I'm in third grade. I just wanted to know how can you tell the age of fish,coral and brittle stars and how do brittle stars eat there food? how many different types of fish , coral and brittle star? how rare are brittle stars

snorvich · 02/24/2014, 05:31 PM

A very, very difficult question. When a fish is young, (it is known as a juvenile), it has a smaller size and usually a slightly, or sometimes, vastly different coloration. However, once an adult fish reaches maturity (size and coloration), it is virtually impossible to see it age. Some marine fish can live to be 20 years old, whereas some, only live for 1.5 to 2 years.

brandoniscool · 02/25/2014, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

A very, very difficult question. When a fish is young, (it is known as a juvenile), it has a smaller size and usually a slightly, or sometimes, vastly different coloration. However, once an adult fish reaches maturity (size and coloration), it is virtually impossible to see it age. Some marine fish can live to be 20 years old, whereas some, only live for 1.5 to 2 years.

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Sk8r · 02/25/2014, 03:58 PM

Scientists found a clam that may have lived 500 years.
And coral reefs may be nearly immortal, if you count that they divide to reproduce.
Most reefs are around 12000 years old, because the oceans changed depth then, and corals depend on being a certain distance from sunlight.

Many of the little fishes you see offered for sale are adults...and stay that size.
Some of them, however, are babies, and grow a foot or so real fast!
Always look up the adult size of the fish you want to buy!

02/24/2014, 01:55 PM	#1
brandoniscool Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Champaign IL Posts: 526	can you tell the age of a coral or a fish hi my name is sherell I'm in third grade. I just wanted to know how can you tell the age of fish,coral and brittle stars and how do brittle stars eat there food? how many different types of fish , coral and brittle star? how rare are brittle stars __________________ Coral Reef Project Stratton Elementary rutherbr@champaignschools.org mrrutherfordisawesome.weebly.com/reef-system Current Tank Info: Mix Reef Last edited by brandoniscool; 02/24/2014 at 02:09 PM.

02/25/2014, 03:58 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Scientists found a clam that may have lived 500 years. And coral reefs may be nearly immortal, if you count that they divide to reproduce. Most reefs are around 12000 years old, because the oceans changed depth then, and corals depend on being a certain distance from sunlight. Many of the little fishes you see offered for sale are adults...and stay that size. Some of them, however, are babies, and grow a foot or so real fast! Always look up the adult size of the fish you want to buy! __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/24/2014, 05:31 PM	#2
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	A very, very difficult question. When a fish is young, (it is known as a juvenile), it has a smaller size and usually a slightly, or sometimes, vastly different coloration. However, once an adult fish reaches maturity (size and coloration), it is virtually impossible to see it age. Some marine fish can live to be 20 years old, whereas some, only live for 1.5 to 2 years.