Congo Puffer (T. Miurus) longevity

[eieio]

curious to know how long you have had (or did have) your Congo Puffer

[Pufferpunk]

Mine lasted about 6 years & then one day I found her dead.

[eieio]

anybody else?

[Smashtoad]

I know of tetras and rainbows that have lived for over five years, so my guess would be that a largely inactive predator like a Congo puffer could live several years longer...maybe fifteen. Thing is, they are all wild caught, so age at capture is pretty difficult to determine. Females of some tarantula species can live to be thirty, and some toads and salamanders can live more than twenty years. Longevities of inactive ambush predators are usually somewhat surprising, and my guess is that puffers would be no different.

[Pufferpunk]

I have a pair of 19 year old elephant noses.

[Smashtoad]

I have a pair of 19 year old elephant noses.

WOW...that's what I'm talking about! I would have never guessed mormyrids to live that long...must be their electric personality

[pufferpuggirl]

I think it's awesome that some puffers can live more than 10-15 years. You just don't think of fish as living that long. I know some turtles and tortoises can live up to 100 years or more (if man doesn't mess with them that is).

[Brent]

Mine lasted about 6 years & then one day I found her dead.

Wait, Punkster is dead?!

She'll be remembered as the Congo Puffer that got me into Congo Puffers.

[bigfatfish]

My GSP is about 10 yrs now & I hope he will live a year or 2 longer, cos I have a big new tank for him that is cycling at the moment!

[pufferpuggirl]

Wow bigfatfish, that is awesome! May I ask how big your GSP is?

I'd love to say I've had a puffer that long, would be good to have those years together.

[bigfatfish]

Unfortunately, he is only about 3". This is probably because when I got him, I was given completely the wrong advice from lfs regarding his care & he has been kept in FW tank. I never thought to question this advice - until I found this forum! Hence I am now starting up a 55 gallon (UK) brackish tank & hopefully I can make up for the wrong that has been done. Don't think he will grow anymore though. He still looks nice & healthy (white tum & bright colours) but he suffers from bad teeth. I love him tho!

[pufferpuggirl]

I've got 5 GSP's and they are all a nice size, well given what you normally see around here. I've not had them that long, but am hoping to have them for a long time to come, although I know at some point I will need to either thin them out and rehome some, or get a much bigger tank for them. They are quite an interesting group and I love to watch them interact with each other, especially when I throw snails in the tank!

Well bigfatfish, I say Bravo to you for trying to rectify the wrong done to your puffer! Good for you!

[Lil' Swimz$]

PP, did Punkster pass away?? Oh, smashtoad I get it, ha ha, electric personality.