How long do fish live?

[Guest Ferret1959]

Chatting to Slacklines on the phone earlier and the subject came up of how old pike can get and knowing how old they are.

I heard that pike roughly put on a pound in weight per year, any truth in that as some big pike must be very well fed or a ripe old age.

 

Any clues how old fish get to please?

Edited January 21, 2006 by Ferret1959

[bushwacker]

I've just looked in Fred Bullers book PIKE and this is what I came up with.

 

At a length of 40" it is 11yrs old, that by the way is read from a table not an actual quote from the book.

 

I hope that helps, I will look at one of his other books if I get a chance tonight for you.

[Fastd]

Chatting to Slacklines on the phone earlier and the subject came up of how old pike can get and knowing how old they are.

I heard that pike roughly put on a pound in weight per year, any thruth in that as some big pike must be very well fed or a ripe old age.

 

Any clues how old fish get to please?

 

This should answer the question regarding pike http://www.pacgb.co.uk/aboutpike/age.html

 

From my own experience carp can outlive them as fish I stcked in 1980 into a lake are still there. I may be wrong but I think the larger the fish the longer they live is a good guide. A similar life span is exhibitted by mammals, the smaller they are the faster the metabolism and the shorter the lifespan.

 

As I type this it has set me to thinking...if have a fish pond built when I first got married...there are still two goldfish in there from the original stocking which was 24 years ago! They weigh perhaps 2lb each but both are very healthy and eating well.

 

Dave

[Snatcher]

Ferret cast the wool yet? bet it pulls out

[corydoras]

According to Fishbase the pike (Esox lucius) live about 30 years.

http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/Speci...mary.php?id=258

 

A goldfish is supposed to have lasted 45 years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/4341254.stm

 

The longest living shark species lives 70-100 years.

http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary/Speci...mary.php?id=258

 

I think the real answer is that nobody really knows how long fishes can live for. Sharks have long lives and some researches think that groupers and wrasse may also have long lifespans. Only time and tagging programs will tell I suppose.

Edited January 23, 2006 by corydoras

[GLOBE]

Most pike do not live very long compared to many other species.

 

There are some pet koi carp that are supposed to have lived over 100-years.

 

One fish that can grow to a very old age, is the sturgeon, with some specimens recorded via tests, to exceed 150-years of age.

[Indian Angler]

We here think carp grow at an average of 2 to 3lbs a year. Many lakes around Bangalore are stocked just after the monsoon and harvested just before the following monsoon. The average size of fish are around 3lbs, at that size they are considered just right for the table!!

Also depends on the number of fish in a given area. I've had common carp in a small pond for a couple of years and they grew to about 200gms. So I guess some sort of 'stunting' occured.

Alot depends on local climatic, food and water conditions.

[GlennB]

Nearly all fish have otoliths in their skulls. These are part of its balance mechanism, like the inner ear in humans.

Otoliths grow with the fish and lay down a series of growth rings (like trees, but more detailed)

Studying the rings gives an accurate indication of age.

Only any use on dead fish of course

Edited January 24, 2006 by GlennB

[Breadpunch]

Check out the link below from the EA's website they say Pike rarely exceed 18 years of age.

 

Facts and figures about pike

 

Paul

Edited January 26, 2006 by Breadpunch