Life Expectancy

[Moche]

How long can I expect my apisto to live for. It is a steel blue male. I have had him for two years and he was almost mature when I got him from a LFS.
thanks

 

[Mike Wise]

Life expectancy really depends on many factors: quality of food/feeding, water, stress levels, etc. That being said, Römer's research indicates that 2 years is about average for an apisto, but they can live up to 5 years or more.

 

[strohl71]

Anytime I keep an individual apisto alive in my tank for 2+ years, I consider it to be a success. I do not think I have ever had one reach 3 years.

I would say the average apisto lifespan in my tank is 12-15 months. Do you other apisto keepers out there have similar average lifespans?

My female ancistris pleco, on the other hand, is going on her 8th year in my tank.

 

[P.W.]

My oldest apisto ever, was a Borellii female that reached the age of eight years! Definately an extreme, since the average lifespan of my apistos would be about two years.

 

[Mike Wise]

It's not uncommon for my apistos to live > 2 years. I have a pair of A. sp. Oregon in a tank right now. They were collected with TomC in Peru in 10/08 and were adults at the time. Same for a female A. sp. Nijsseni-New, male A. sp. Papagei. I have a female A. steindachneri that I got as a juvenile in 2007. My pair of A. cf. agassizii (Madeira-Gold) spawned last Spring. I checked my records. They were hatched in 03/06! I think that fish live longer if put in a stable environment, with low stress, fed lightly, and not bred continuously.

 

[P.W.]

I agree with you Mike. The conditions for my aging Borellii female was exactly like that. She was alone in a 50 litre tank with some guppy as company for the major part of her life.
No spawning, regular feeding and low density of fish. She was the last remaining of a very nice yellowhead strain. I was just waiting to find a suitable yellowhead male (that never showed up). And I didn´t wanted to cross her with my Opal strain. So thats the trick perhaps, celibacy = long life

 

[Apistomaster]

About 2 to 2-1/2 years is how long most of mine live but A. borelli has been the longest lived species I have kept. Mine lived up to about 4-1/2 years.
It is interesting because A. borelli, despite being one of the smaller species, it is also a fairly slow growing species which may take up to 6 months before they first spawn.
I have had A. trifasciata and A. cacatuiodes spawn at only 4 months but 2-1/2 years has been their typical life spans for me.

 

[P.W.]

It is interesting because A. borelli, despite being one of the smaller species, it is also a fairly slow growing species which may take up to 6 months before they first spawn.

You´re right, haven´t thought about that. Borellii is really an "odd fellow" in the Apisto family in many aspects.

 

[Mike Wise]

You´re right, haven´t thought about that. Borellii is really an "odd fellow" in the Apisto family in many aspects.

How very true. A. borellii also can handle lower temperatures than most apistos. For 'cold blooded' species, this can slow the metabolism and increase the life span.

 

[strohl71]

I find all of this very interesting. Seems that most of my apisto's fall short of the average lifespan of other captive apisto's.

Some of my apisto's make it past 2 years but I would have to say this is not the majority.

Maybe one of my factors is 3 young boys in the house that I often have to remind not to touch the tank. Tanks are for looking not touching!

 

[Moche]

After reading the responses I believe my Apisto may be around for a while longer. He has never bred, he lives in a heavily planted 30 gallon tank with very few neigbors (1 otto, 2 guppies, and a badis badis to chase when he's bored), and regular water changes.
thanks for all your responses