Black Skirt Tetra...is it his time???

[Bill M.]

Ah, the time every aquarist dreads; not knowing if his/her fish is just going through a phase, or is it that time, which we must depart from our gilled friends.

I have been in this time for a few days now, looking at my beloved black skirt, the largest of his school, who I have had for nearly five years. He''s lost some of his vivid black and silver coloration, he just floats under the filter, not active as he once was.

I add a pinch of food to the tank, and his eyes spot the flakes, and he swims lazily to the surface, eats a flake or two, and then swims back into his fortress of solitude in the plants. Nothing other than his subdued coloration is out of the norm; his fins are flared out to thier maximum, and he seems to have little problems floating.

I know not if he will die, I pray that he doesn't, it may seem wierd, but for some reason, I feel attached to this individual. Maybe it was becasue he was my first fish in a "real" aquarium, my ten gallon. Maybe it is because he was the largest of his kind. What ever it is, it is rather unknown to me, but I still hope and pray his time hasn't come.

Has anyone heard of the lifespan of these magnificant creatures????

Replies are much apprecitated.....

[zackish]

It is probably coming to that time I would say. Especially for a tetra you have had him quite a few years. My friend has had blackskirts for about 5 years too.

[troy]

Just leave it alone. You don't know what could happen. It's just dieing of old age.

[RobbieG]

Usually 3-6 years so he may have a little bit left in him!

[AquaQueen]

I have two red eye tetras that my mom had for like 3yrs and I have had them for almost two this fall and they seem healthy..knock on wood. I've never asked the life span on these guys but they seem very tough and lively if ya ask me. I am Sorry to hear that your fish is looking so sick. I am dreading the day one of my babies time comes. I too have had some of them for a few years. Good Luck, maybe he is just sick and will be better in a week.

[MeganL3985]

I've read 4-6 yrs for black skirts. Hopefully its not his time, but if it is i'm sure he's lived a wonderful life. Thats all we can do is care for them and enjoy the time we have together. I always think its just as hard to lose and animal as it is losing a person. Its perfectly normal to feel this attached, even to a fish. Animals are animals, no matter what the species.

[2manyfish]

I had mine for about 7 years when they started dying one by one. The loss of color is one of the biggest clues right there. Do an extra water change every now and then it might help to perk her up! Not much else you can do but be happy that you gave her (if it's alot bigger than the rest it's probably a "her") a nice long healthy life in your tank!!