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Lost one of my oldest gastromyzon today

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:27 pm
by Jim Powers
When I fed the fish this morning, I noticed that one of my my oldest gastromyzon, an ocellatus that I bought almost ten years ago, was not out front, ready to feed, as it usually is. I found it dead behind a piece of driftwood.
In October of 2002 I bought five G. ocellatus and three ctenocephalus at Uncle Ned's in Milis, Mass. while visiting friends. At that time, I could not find gastros in my area. I drove the fish 1000 miles home and all made it fine. Most died within the first three years or so, but two ocellatus and one ctenocephalus made it to the 8 year mark. Then, I lost one of the ocellatus. The remaining two continued to do well, although they slimmed down a bit in the last year or two. The fish that died today was eating well up until the last day or so. As is the case with many hillstreams, when they go, they go quickly. Now only one ctenocephalus of that group remains. I feel lucky to have had these fish so long, but I hate to see them go. I still have a Beaufortia and a Sinogastromyzon that I have had for 11 years.

Re: Lost one of my oldest gastromyzon today

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:42 pm
by plaalye
I don't know what the life span is in the wild but you surely get the most of them in aquaria Jim! Sorry for you loss but 10 years is impressive!

Re: Lost one of my oldest gastromyzon today

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 12:54 am
by starsplitter7
I can't imagine what it is like to say good bye to a fish afte rso many years, but those fish are happy to have found you and lived such a great life. Show us a picture when youa re feeling up to it. So nice that he lived a normal life until his last day.

Re: Lost one of my oldest gastromyzon today

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:43 am
by odyssey
It is a great breeding record!
I have continued keeping a fish alive only until not more than seven years.

In my tank, Mountain Rock Goby of the seventh year has died last month.
It has got very thinner during last three months.
I felt very sorry for the figure.
I think that it is an ideal way of ending it grows old with being cheerful, and to be over flatly.

Re: Lost one of my oldest gastromyzon today

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 11:32 am
by Menu
Sorry to hear that Jim, but ten years is a very impressive age!

Re: Lost one of my oldest gastromyzon today

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:42 pm
by Jim Powers
Thanks, everyone!
Here is a pic of the fish. Its in the foreground. This pic was taken about 2-3 years ago. The ctenocephalus in the background is about 10 years now old and still alive.
Image

And here it is again.
Image

Re: Lost one of my oldest gastromyzon today

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:53 am
by ClownLoachSharky
thats very sad :cry: . it looks so cute

Re: Lost one of my oldest gastromyzon today

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:25 am
by bookpage
Sorry to hear about your fish, Jim. All of your fish are luck to have found a home with you. Living that long, you must really be doing something right. We don't know (I'm guessing), but it may have lived longer with you than in the wild!