Lifespan Of A Betta?

Ok, so I've heard a million different things about a Betta's lifespan. Some people say 2 years is a looong time for a Betta to live and that they're already a year old in the pet stores. Some people say it's more of a 3-7 years thing.

In your individual experiences, how long have your Bettas lived?

 

I've heard of 7-10 years, though it's uncommon. I'd expect 5 years. Mine lived 3 years, but it was old when I got it so it was probably about 5 years old when it died.

 

3-5 years under good conditions. Wild types can probably live for much longer, but they have the benefits of tougher fins and bodies and not being inbred for traits that do the opposite of helping them survive, like long tails to rot and weigh them down.

Same with fancy goldfish, really (6 years fancy VS 12 years common).

So if you get around 4 years out of your betta, you're doing a good enough job.

 

I had one that lived with me for over 4 years, so I'd probably say like 4 or 5. Wouldn't be shocked if one went longer, though.

 

Ok, so I've heard a million different things about a Betta's lifespan. Some people say 2 years is a looong time for a Betta to live and that they're already a year old in the pet stores. Some people say it's more of a 3-7 years thing.

In your individual experiences, how long have your Bettas lived?

I've had 3. Then I converted to salt.

Fish #1- 1.2 years
Flowy- 3 years
Fish #3- 9 days

In the cups they are normally
1-3 years old, it's rare to find a young one

 

Thanks for the responses! For those who haven't seen my thread, I'll have my Betta for 6 months on the 21st. He is battling severe fin rot but I think he may be getting slightly better!

 

A family member had one for 7, kept with no heater.
I have had a few around 5.

Most get to live, oh, 3 weeks after they arrive in stores.

 

Mine right now is 4 years and still going.

 

Most of mine have lived at least 5, with a couple of females reaching 8. I've heard of them living 10 years, but have never seen it in person.

 

Posting problem. Sorry

 

3-5 years is the average. Over 5 years is rare. There have been reports of 7-10. With all of the hybridizing going on with bettas, I would think that the 3-5 is most likely for most bettas.

 

Ok so here is a real good chart.
Count Points compare them at end.

Gallon Points
1-3. - 1P
3-5 - 5P
5-10. 10P
10+. 20P

Heater
Low Grade- 5P
High Grade- 10P

Filter
Low- 3P
High- 5P

Gallon only works if betta is only fish.


Here is your stats on care- not including illness [i.e. fin rot.]

1-5P. Not Long At All
5-10P Average Care
10-20P Long Lifespan
20+P Max Lifespan

Some Betta live for 5+ years. Note this is not accurate, because it doesn't cover everything

#3 Mr. Cool- 9 yrs
#2 Chocolate Candy- 9 years [still living]
#1 Ben- 10 years

 

I find there to be two "camps" in the betta community. Those who believe bettas live 2-4 years and then those who believe bettas live 8-10 years, but they are mistreated so often that their lifespans are significantly reduced. I tend to believe the 2-4 year rule for most cases. I suppose if you got a betta from a premium source, kept it in optimum conditions with optimum food and it was never exposed to disease or bad water quality it could live for a much longer period of time, but 10 years? Most likely not.

 

My longest lived was my first who lived almost 3 years. He outlived 2 others that only lived for around 6 months each. I think genetics plays a role too, or at least the conditions they are bred and sold in. My first came from a small local fish store and I think was from a local small time breeder. The ones that died early were both from big brand pet stores, who I've now decided to never buy fish from again after getting poor betta and platy stock. My current two are from a specialist fish store and after a year still seem very strong and healthy, here's hoping they last a few more years yet!

 

I find there to be two "camps" in the betta community. Those who believe bettas live 2-4 years and then those who believe bettas live 8-10 years, but they are mistreated so often that their lifespans are significantly reduced.

I don't think it's a question of belief - there are objective observations of Bettas living long lives in regular set ups. I believe 3 years is a decent lifespan for any Betta in a tank. Anything beyond that is luck, genetics and the skill of the fishkeeper in providing good food and conditions. But 5 is easy to get to for them.

Every long lived Betta I have seen myself has been one with a small body that carried about 2/3 the finnage of a real show Betta. I think that may have something to do with it. Really large Bettas with really spectacular (as opposed to really pretty) finnage tend to pay a price.

The elephant in the room with Betta lifespan is Mycobacter marinum - fish tb. It is common where mass production of fish is common, as a crowding disease, and it will cut a Betta lifespan to a year and a half. If a betta arrives already carrying that common betta killer, then you are in a different situation.

 

Yikes...I hope Scooby doesn't get that, especially because it'll be 6 months soon since I got him and he's battling severe fin rot. Another dose of JFC tomorrow...

 

I have 2 live to 5 yrs. I think 5 yrs is the max that I would consider a normal lifespan for a Betta. After 5 is exceptional and under 3 is not very good. Not saying it's the owners fault as some fish are just plain weak and sickly from the start.

 

I think anything over 2 is fine considering fish can sometimes already be 6 months to a year old when you buy them.

 

I think we look at the question from two angles.
First, if we know the lifespan, we may use it as a measure of our past fishkeeping. We want to know if we did something wrong if our Betta only lived six months. Lifespan possibilities don't give any satisfying answer. A shorter life can come from the farm. From diseases carried. From bad genetics (the retriever's hip effect of commercial breeding). From individual variation. Or from us providing bad quarters, bad nutrition and filthy water. There are no set answers there.
It's like the fin rot issue. It can come from bad breeding, if the fins catch every spore and fold over them. It can come as a result of conditions in cups, in stores. Or it can come from dirty water in too small tanks. No answers online - you have to figure it out. Sometimes, the problem is you. Sometimes, it is events beyond your control.

The other thing knowing a Betta can live 3-5 years easily can offer is a future target. If you are new at this and you see long lived Bettas,( but not your own), you could want to know how to choose these healthy Bettas. How to feed them (not betta pellets). How to maintain their water quality. It can give you a goal, and lead to a more satisfying hobby.