Hardiest/toughest fish you've ever kept...?

[LHAquatics]

I want to add more fish to the list, but I can't

 

[chromedome52]

Snakeheads are currently banned in the US, though you can catch at least three different species in various parts of the country. They are often sold alive in Asian fish markets, just wrapped in wet leaves to keep them moist. They can survive like that for a long time.

Hardiest aquarium fish that I am familiar with is Rivulus (Oditichthys) hartii. In general, they'd rather spend much of their time out of the water rather than in it. A friend of mine had a pair in a poorly covered tank in his basement, and being Rivulus, of course they jumped out. About a year later he saw something moving in the standing water puddle beneath his water heater. Turned out the pair had found the puddle and were breeding - there were several fry with them. He lives in Canada, and referred to them as his "Canadian Rivulus".

 

[Kevinthebreeder]

Its sad how much abused bettas and goldfish get

A friend of mine keeps losing and buying goldfish. He keeps 4-6 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank with different kinds of fish without any plant and starter bacteria. I wanted to tell him it's wrong but I dont want to offend him.

 

[Cherryx]

I agree 100%. I have had bad experiences with both platies and bettas, and I too have noticed they are most written about on this forum for being ill.

A couple of reasons why they get more SOS here could be - bettas are kept in tiny jars much more than any other fish exposing them to more stress and toxins. They are also the most beloeved, where the pet owner forms a strong bonding hence driving them to make posts and look for help. And lastly, they are one of the most common fish out there. I would think bettas are hardy only because they are pretty tolerant of cycling, often kept more by people who are not patient enough to cycle their tanks. I guess wild caught bettas are the hardiest - all of my three bettas come from the wild. It took me a while to get them start appreciating pellets and frozen food, they went on without eating for days. Probably wont be the same if its a tank bred ones. Just my guess.

 

[V1K]

A friend of mine keeps losing and buying goldfish. He keeps 4-6 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank with different kinds of fish without any plant and starter bacteria. I wanted to tell him it's wrong but I dont want to offend him.

If he is indeed your friend, and not just an acquaintance, you can and must call him out on his nonsense, that's your duty as a friend. I mean, don't attack him, but be like, "Did you know that it's actually recommended to keep a goldfish in at least 20 gal, and to add 10 gal for each additional goldfish? I heard you keep having problems with yours, maybe this is a reason". I don't see how that's offensive. If he's a good person, just misinformed, he should be grateful for the info. If he gets offended or doesn't care, do you even need a friend like that .

 

[Aqua Hands]

Having one fish die doesn't sound like a strong proof of not being hardy. Things happen, even goldfish die.

I also had very few fish die. You have to take into account how many times the fish was sick. I promise that a kuhli loach is nowhere near as hard as a betta. The only reason it could be seen as that is because it has such a low bioload.
I probably shouldn't have said "Very Hardy". The not weaklings like discus but they're not anywhere close to betta level hardiness.
I probably shouldn't have said "Very Hardy". The not weaklings like discus but they're not anywhere close to betta level hardiness.

Edit: Thanks Mods

 

[RayClem]

A friend of mine keeps losing and buying goldfish. He keeps 4-6 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank with different kinds of fish without any plant and starter bacteria. I wanted to tell him it's wrong but I dont want to offend him.

Some people need to be offended. If your "friend" gets insulted by proper instruction, you might want to find a more suitable friend. He is just torturing his fish. Whether it is a dog, cat, hamster or fish, irresponsible treatment of animals is wrong.

 

[Aqua Hands]

Some people need to be offended. If your "friend" gets insulted by proper instruction, you might want to find a more suitable friend. He is just torturing his fish. Whether it is a dog, cat, hamster or fish, irresponsible treatment of animals is wrong.

let's keep in mind some people don't understand that...

 

[LHAquatics]

The reason why I think bettas and Goldfish are because of how much they are abused. People think of fish as temporary pets that live for 2 weeks then when they die they flush them do a toilet. That is unfair. Bettas are known to live in rice puddles and people are using that as an excuse to put them in cups with no filter or a heater. Goldfish too. They are mostly won in carnivals and then go in bowls for 2 weeks also with no filter or a heater. Fish are living beings and need to be treated like one. If you can't take care of any animal, don't take the responsibility of taking care of it.

 

[RayClem]

let's keep in mind some people don't understand that...

If we never attempt to educate them, they will never understand.

 

[redtetra]

Hello fish peeps!

I have found my black and white skirt tetras to be one of the hardiest fish I’ve kept. They’ve survived multiple moves and one time I had a heater quit working and I never knew till I put my hand in for a water change and brrrrrr freezing cold water. I was sad!
Gradually brought temp up with new heater and not one fatality.
Enjoy!

 

[noobscaper]

I'd say plecos and bettas.
6 years ago, I was... Let's just say not the most well-informed fishkeeper.
I had a 5G with a betta and a bristlenose pleco. Both of them survived my monthly 100% water changes for 2 years, as well as the betta's constant attacks.
I'm happy to say the bristlenose is now in a much-larger tank

 

[Kevinthebreeder]

If we never attempt to educate them, they will never understand.

I once asked him if it would be useful to have starter bacteria on his tank but he said he doesn't need it.

 

[redtetra]

I once asked him if it would be useful to have starter bacteria on his tank but he said he doesn't need it.

Print out a simple fish care sheet for him. Can’t argue with facts

 

[LHAquatics]

How hardy are Enlder livebearers? Also how much do they breed?

 

[RayClem]

Endlers are very hardy fish as are most of the common livebearers. The average gestation period for endlers is 23 days, so they can give birth often.

Due to the stress of live birth female endlers seldom live as long as males. Many females die shortly after giving birth.

 

[WrenFeenix]

Endlers are very hardy fish as are most of the common livebearers. The average gestation period for endlers is 23 days, so they can give birth often.

Due to the stress of live birth female endlers seldom live as long as males. Many females die shortly after giving birth.

Is that why I never see female Endlers sold anywhere? It's always male Endlers and female guppies.

 

[jkkgron2]

Is that why I never see female Endlers sold anywhere? It's always male Endlers and female guppies.

I got some nice female endlers from petco, but they did die after having 20+ babies each.

 

[LHAquatics]

My albino Corydoras, Harelquin rasboras, and platies are INDESTRUCTIBLE. They survived Ich, ammonia, and many rescapes.

 

[GlennO]

I don't think I've ever had a BN die on me. Tough as old boots.

 

[pagoda]

Never had any hardiness issues with Pleco's, Neons or Cardinals so far....touch wood.

 

[GouramiGuy44]

Just curious, what was the toughest fish you’ve ever kept? For me, I’ve had a few:

(1) a dwarf Gourami that got stuck in driftwood after chasing infusoria, ripped half his scales off, and caused severe damage to his fins, and he healed completely.

(2) a lyretail Molly who was dropped in a bag by a pet store worker, turning the water to froth, no damage or illness afterwards

(3) A white yin-yang guppy (yes, a guppy) that survived a severe fin rot case at the store which left permanent tail deformities, went unscathed by ich and gill fluke outbreaks, choked on chopped peas, which had to be removed from the throat by my father USING A PIPETTE, and withstood a severe and sudden ammonia spike that killed off nearly a third of my fish, until unfortunately dying of dropsy. (I had no access to aquarium salt )

I can’t believe how tough these fellas can be, so I’d love to hear some stories of your little survivors!

 

[PeterFishKeepin]

I have shubinkin goldfish which i 'rescued' after it was in a 5gal bowl (no filter) for 6yrs, it was 3.5 inches long....... its now in my 850gal pond and after being severely growth stunted its now grown an inch or so in the past year.... strong fish (its the fish in the first photo)

 

[Silverleaf209]

I would have to say my little Galaxy rasbora because when I once had some Bloodfin tetras they were super aggressive and nipped at all of my fish's fins and he was the only one that returned unscathed while one of my three remaining rasboras died.

Idk if this counts but I once had a plant (I still do) that I bought from a Petsmart for half price because it was half dead and it was getting choked by one of its neighboring plants, it took a year but the little guy pulled through, what a true survivor!

 

[CHJ]

Weather loach. Went from tank where heater went crockpot and pegged out the thermometer 115F was cap. As a panicking kid I ran the water in the rescue pail cold, hurt your scalp and eyes well water cold ~45F, netted the loach and dumped him in the pail. The loach was fun, unlike all the other fish in the tank that were very dead balls of slime. 80+ degree temp shift, no problem.
Somehow those have gone invasive in my state. Can't be killed and can clean out a gamefish nest like a hungry loach.

 

[GouramiGuy44]

Weather loach. Went from tank where heater went crockpot and pegged out the thermometer 115F was cap. As a panicking kid I ran the water in the rescue pail cold, hurt your scalp and eyes well water cold ~45F, netted the loach and dumped him in the pail. The loach was fun, unlike all the other fish in the tank that were very dead balls of slime. 80+ degree temp shift, no problem.
Somehow those have gone invasive in my state. Can't be killed and can clean out a gamefish nest like a hungry loach.

Wow, just wow.

 

[Sewerrat]

Feeder guppy bought 40 or so had 1 survive was young didn't know they needed a heater lived in 1/2 gallon bowl with small daily water changes (made it almost 3 years) used to bring the bowl with me when I would visit family members

 

[Cue]

A young common plec named Eddie Spaghetti. I picked him up to foster from the shelter and… he was in a 5 gallon tank with no filter that smelled so absolutely foul I wore a mask in the car with the windows open. I never tested the water but it’s in the past now, he’s living the life of luxury in a 300gallon at a fish rescue and I’m the aquatics expert for the shelter now.

 

[0flossie0]

Probably my plain spotted Plecostamus. He lived for years and never had any issues.

 

[KeepKeepingAquatics]

Not fish... Pest snails..

 

[FitSoldier]

My veteran Plecostomus. Mine lived in a tropical community planted tank in the beginning, then moved into an African Cichlid tank, then American Cichlid tank. Lived with fish of all different varieties and sizes. Took many beatings in its life too.

My friend accidently dropped her Plecostomus in soapy water and hers still lived. These Plecos are absolute Spartans.