How long do oto cats live?

[stanleo]

i have had five otos for three and half years. When I google the question I get 3-5 years. I assume 3 years is when they aren’t taken care of properly but I’m wondering what other people have experienced with their longevity.

 

[mikey11]

i think you have been very lucky.....they are currently living on borrowed time

 

[stanleo]

i think you have been very lucky.....they are currently living on borrowed time

I wonder that about my bamboo shrimp. The stats I find on those say 1-2 years is normal maybe a bit longer with proper care and luck. I have 2 and one is 3 1/2 and the other is 2 1/2. I come to the tank all the time expecting the worst but they are still kickin.

 

[NickAu]

Well cared for fish can live a lot longer than people think.

Most people will tell you Bettas for example live 2 to 3 years, well thats nonsense a well cared fish can easily live 5 years or more, I know a breeder who has several males that are over 6 years old and one thats almost 8 years old.

 

[seangee]

Stats are just stats, like what's the life expectancy of a person.
Guess it proves you are doing something right with your fish

 

[stanleo]

I ask this cause I have been trying to count them all day and have only found three. That’s not saying much cause the tank is heavily planted with lots of space that I can’t see. Plus before I upgraded from my 55 gl to this 120, I thought for a year that I only had 2 left until I transferred the fish and found all five of them.