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Post by Rachel on Apr 16, 2004 8:46:23 GMT -5
I received a question recently; can anyone attempt to answer it?
How old was the longest living Betta?
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Post by starlight on Apr 16, 2004 22:20:54 GMT -5
"Bettas A Complete Introduction" by Walt Maurus
Page 19...Longevity
"Most betta enthusiasts seem to be of the opinion that bettas have an expected life span of about two and one half years. But of course all averages have extremes, and information from several sources indicate that bettas can live much longer. The greatest extreme thus far tells of several males over nine years old....these fish live under laboratory conditions and are part of a university experiment on longevity. Each fish has a tank of several gallons to itself. Each day the fish are exercised by being chased about the tank by a student involved in the experiment for a prescribed period of time. These fish are still capable of spawning..."
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The message is clear, chase your bettas!
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Post by ACKislander on Apr 17, 2004 16:33:28 GMT -5
Two to three years is common under average conditions. If your betta spends his whole life in good water conditions (i.e. not sitting on a store shelf for weeks in his own filth) they can easily live 4 - 5 years. I have several acquaintances I know through betta keeping who have bettas over 5 years old. Good genes help too.
Neat info starlight, I had no idea. WOW!
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Post by Rachel on Apr 18, 2004 18:23:56 GMT -5
Thanks starlight! I bet that's as close to Guinness World Record facts as I'm going to find. I think that's the kind of answer they were looking for.  |
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Post by starlight on Apr 18, 2004 21:09:49 GMT -5
Glad you guys liked that info. I read that years ago but don't think I ever mentioned it before. The study was done under laboratory conditions. They probably spawned all the participants. They lived in a perfect world where ammo didn't exist. Their temperature probably didn't vary more than 1/10 th of a degree. The feed program must have been sheer perfection.
Anyway you look at it, they really knew how to take care of bettas. Nine + years is simply incredible.
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Post by Captain Flashheart on Apr 19, 2004 5:07:59 GMT -5
I have that book! ;D It said that the key seemed to be exercise I think - they were chased around for a certain amount of time with straws or whatever by students - and other bettas kept in smaller conditions without the exercise, when given an autopsy, had fatty deposits around the gills, etc.
-Flash
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Post by starlight on Apr 21, 2004 1:21:22 GMT -5
Flash it doesn't say how they exercised them. My bettas are very active and either play with their neighbors or their reflections. When I've read about a sluggish betta on HB, my advice is to chase them with a straw. The bottom of a tank is not a good place for a betta to spend his whole day. My bettas usually sleep nestled in Java Ferns or between Java Moss. Some sleep on pieces of Poly Filter and a few on the bottom. When they're awake, they are active and off the bottom.
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Post by Michele1975 on Apr 27, 2004 22:06:06 GMT -5
One of my bettas lived for 5 years, simply amazing because he was a rescue. His water was BROWN when I rescued him, I have no idea how he lived in that!
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