Top 12 Longest Living Fish Pet That You Never Knew Before

Pet fish are a popular choice of pet for many people today. Do you want to know which are the best fish species that live longer? In this article, we’ll discuss some of the longest living fish pet, and you’ll be surprised by some of them.

1- Koi Fish (18-25 Years)

Koi are very sturdy creatures being able to withstand a wide range of weather and water conditions. This makes them easy to keep and maintain even in colder climates. Koi fish live longer if they are in a pond with good water quality.

Koi, like all other fish, have no eyelids and cannot close their eyes. Their eyes are always open and working. They never shut down their brains to sleep. Because they do not sleep they don’t dream either. Fish do rest, but when they do they usually lie at the bottom of the pond with their fins spread out.

Koi can live for a very long time if given proper care and room to grow. Koi have been known to live for over 50 years old! Although many don’t last this long, it is not unusual for a koi to live 18-25 years or longer. It is no doubt one of the longest living pet fish.

2- Goldfish (8-25 Years)

Goldfish are one of the oldest domesticated fish. They were first kept in ponds in China for food, but Chinese people later started keeping goldfish as pets. Goldfish have been kept as pets in China for over 1,000 years.

It is one of the most popular pet fish among children. Goldfish are not only inexpensive, but they are also easy to care for and can be a great beginner fish for kids.

The question of how long goldfish live is a tricky one. It depends on several factors, but with an average life expectancy of 8-25 years, you can be sure that with proper care, your goldfish can live for a very long time. Goldfish takes the number 2 position in our longest living fish pet list.

3- Oscar Fish (10-18 Years)

The oscar fish is a popular pet. They can grow up to 18 inches long, though they are typically 12 inches long when kept as pets. Their colors range from gray to red with spots or stripes, and some have tails that look like fans.

Oscars can breathe both water and air. They are related to piranhas and spend time both above and below water, so they need a tank with both water and air space. The tank should be 30+ gallons for one fish and if you have more than one fish then it is recommended to have a larger tank because they can be aggressive towards each other.

While it’s theoretically possible for an Oscar to live for 20 years or more, the average life expectancy of a healthy Oscar fish is typically 10 to 18 years.

With all these characteristics Oscar Fish takes the number 3 position in our longest living fish pet list.

4- Discus (12-18 Years)

Discus fish are one of the most gorgeous aquarium fish in the world. Their colorful body and friendly nature make them one of the most popular fish in aquariums. They have been bred in many colors and patterns over the years.

Some people call discus the king of freshwater aquarium fish. Although they are very expensive, their beauty is worthy of this price tag.

Discus fish are very peaceful, elegant, and hardy but also very demanding compared to other aquarium fish. They do best with a planted tank, soft acidic water pH, and high water quality.

Discus fish have a relatively long average lifespan when compared to many other tropical fish species. In fact, it is expected for a healthy discus to live for 12 or even 18 years if well cared for.

These were the reasons why we have put this fish in number 4 position in our longest living fish pet list.

5- Clown Loach (16+ Years)

Clown Loach is a popular pet fish for good reason: its lively appearance and social behavior make it an interesting addition to any tank.

One Clown Loach grows to approximately 12 inches in length and can live up to 16 years with proper care. It’s important that you have an aquarium large enough to accommodate your Clown Loach because it will outgrow smaller tanks quickly.

When choosing tank mates for your Clown Loach, keep in mind that they’re social animals who prefer to be with other loaches or other peaceful fish species like tetras, danios, barbs, and rasboras. They may get along well with bottom feeders like Corydoras catfish and plecostomus but stay away from angelfish and gouramis as they are a bit aggressive towards Clown Loach.

So, this fish takes the number 5 position on the longest living fish pet list.

6- Puffer Fish (10-15 Years)

Pufferfish are excellent pets. They’re unique and unusual, which makes them fun to look at. They don’t require much attention, so they’re great for beginner fish owners and people who don’t want a lot of responsibility. They can get along with other species of fish if you keep an eye on them to make sure everyone is playing nice. They need a big tank, so plan ahead!

Pufferfish can live for about 10-15 years in captivity, which means that if you care for them well enough, they’ll be around for quite a while.

With all these characteristics, we were forced to put this fish in number 6 position on the longest living fish pet list.

7- Catfish (15+ Years)

Catfish are one of the most common pets in the aquarium world because they are so easy to take care of. They require only routine feeding and cleaning. A weekly partial water change is recommended, as well as a good filter system to keep the water clean between changes.

Most people don’t realize that catfish are actually very intelligent creatures. They can learn to recognize their owners and come when called, as a dog or a cat would. They also have excellent memories and can remember events that occurred many days ago.

They are also well known for their longevity. The catfish can live anywhere between 8 and 15 years, with the average lifespan being in the middle at 10 years.

So, Catfish takes the number 7 position on the longest living fish pet list.

8- Firemouth (10-15 Years)

Firemouths are an amazing pet fish. They’re really beautiful, they have a really long average lifespan, and they’re really peaceful.

Firemouth fish can grow up to about six inches in length. The most common color for these fish is reddish-orange with a black stripe on the side of their bodies that extends from the nose to the end of the dorsal fin. They also have a blue or orange border on all of their fins, which helps them stand out in an aquarium environment.

They have a life expectancy of 10 years in captivity and can live up to 15 years in the wild. Firemouth definitely deserves the number 8 position on the longest living aquarium fish list.

9- Frontosa (8-15 Years)

The frontosa is a fish native to Africa, and they are prized by aquarium enthusiasts. They are also known as humphead cichlids. This species of fish were found in the Congo River of Africa in the late 1800s. The first frontosas were imported to Germany in 1904, and they have been popular ever since. Visitors to zoos and aquariums can see these fish on display in the United States, but it is illegal for U.S. residents to own them as pets.

The average lifespan of a frontosa is 10 years; however, some have been known to live up to 15 years or more. There are many factors that influence how long a frontosa will live, including their diet and living conditions. That’s why we decided to put Frontosa on the number 9 spot in the longest living aquarium fish list.

10- Midas Cichlid (6-12 Years)

The Midas Cichlid is a gorgeous fish that originates from Lake Nicaragua. These fish get their name from their golden coloration. However, they can also be found in other colors, such as yellow and white. The Midas Cichlid is one of the more popular species of pet cichlids because they are easy to care for and maintain.

Midas Cichlids are relatively large fish when compared to other species of pet cichlids. They can grow up to eight inches in length and have an average life span of 10 years or more. So, with all these characteristics Midas Cichlid deserves the number 10 spot in the longest living aquarium fish list.

11- Black Ruby Barb (5-10 Years)

Black Ruby Barbs are hardy fish that are easy to keep, which makes them an ideal choice for beginners or people who do not have much experience with keeping aquarium fish.

The Black Ruby Barb is omnivorous so they will eat both plants and meaty foods. They can grow up to 4 inches long, although it is more likely that they will only get to about 2-3 inches long in your home aquarium.

Black Ruby Barbs can live for up to 10 years if cared for correctly, but they may only live for 2-5 years in captivity because of poor water quality or other environmental issues. So that’s why we decided to put Black Ruby Barb on the number 11 spot in the longest living aquarium fish list.

12- Bluefin Notho (10+ Years)

It is a tropical freshwater fish that is native to Lake Malawi in Africa. In its natural habitat, the Bluefin Notho is found in waters with a neutral pH and prefers sand or fine gravel substrates.

It may reach 8 inches in length, and requires plenty of open space to swim. This fish is a schooling fish, so if you want to keep Bluefin Notho in your aquarium, you need to get at least 5. They are a peaceful and social species of fish who don’t mind the presence of other non-aggressive species in the tank, but they will not tolerate aggressive or territorial behavior from other fish.

The Bluefin Notho is considered an omnivore and will eat most flake and frozen foods prepared for community fish.

The Bluefin Notho has an active swimming style and prefers open areas for swimming with plenty of rocks for hiding places. They are easy to care for and are an excellent choice for community tanks as they have no aggressive tendencies.

Their life expectancy ranges from 5 to 12 years with proper care.

So with all these reasons, Bluefin Notho deserves to be on the number 12 position in the longest living aquarium fish list.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

It should be noted that this list is in no way definitive, as there are still many other species of fish that remain undiscovered by humans. Based on the collected data in the list, it is safe to conclude that the koi fish is the longest living fish pet with an average lifespan of 18-25 years.