Betta fish

[HalfInsane]

Just curious, what is the longest anyone here has had a betta fish live for?

I'm asking because I have a betta fish named Larry. He's not a lot to look at anymore, his colors have faded with age. I've had him now for over two and a half years. He was fully grown when I bought him; they don't reach full size until anywhere from 9-12 months of age, making him three and half years old.

He's still healthy as anything. Much lazier, mind you. He's getting a hunched back (kind of reminds me of a spawning salmon) and he swims around in a very slow, deliberate fashion. I honestly never knew they could live that long. Anyone else ever had a really old betta fish?


Also, some pictures of the old man,

him at two and a half years old:

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1686/imag0007gz.jpg

And an unflattering close up of his scaley mug from when he was three, just for fun:

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3694/img8751tr.jpg

 

[Mamanda]

I had two different bettas, each for about 3 years each & were full grown when I got them.

 

[roxynoodle]

I haven't had any fish now for a very long time, but IIRC they lived about 4 years each?

 

[suncon97]

I had my last one about 3 years.Now I have left the crappy betta bowl behind and got an actual aquarium for my current betta.It has a filter and a lot better environment.I think it's going on 3 1/2 or 4 years now?

 

[roxynoodle]

I did keep mine in my large aquarium with my other tropical fish. I only ever had one betta at a time, but it got along with the other species of fish just fine. I have to admit, it's hard for me to see them in those tiny containers they are usually in in pet stores. I know you can't put them together (males anyway), but my goodness, they can't even swim around.

So the ones I had were in a 20 gallon tank with filter, heater, etc. Before I left for college, I had to find homes for all my fish as my parents didn't want to take care of it, and I couldn't take it with me. I haven't had fish since, but I did enjoy them when I did. The Bettas were my favorite with their beautiful colors and fins.