I am not just belabouring this, there is an important aspect that should be considered but often is not understood--I just commented on this same issue in another thread. Fish have a strong will to survive whatever conditions they are forced into, when they cannot escape as they often would in their habitat. Swimming, feeding and spawning are not signs that all is well; survival is not thriving. The physiology of each fish species has evolved over thousands of years to function best in a very specific environment, which includes water parameters, habitat conditions, other species, numbers of their own, etc. These needs are part of the genetic makeup of a species. As I mentioned previously, temperature drives the fish's metabolism, and the further outside the species' preferences (which are their needs), the more difficult life becomes. I don't think we want that for our fish.
This I understand, being a qualified biologist, to advanced degree standard, myself.
I'm also aware of the 'why' of expressing concern and would also add that, in the wild, with repeated rainfalls, inconsistent additions and removals of a wide variety of organic matter and other naturally occurring variables, the status of the natural environment is only relatively stable and is rarely static.
Those parameters you refer to were never static and experienced a bell-curve variation and I recall research demonstrating that the concept of 'specific' environments was an artificial one.
The life expectancy of our fish in the wild is rarely accurately measured, leaving only tank-held specimens to give us some clues as to their life-spans. Looking the records maintained by keen aquarists gives some potential life-spans, but again these are often subjective and scientific method, with adequate controls, can produce a range of life-spans for any one species of fish. Add that fish to a variety of community tank set-ups and there are then too many variables to properly compare and contrast.
All I know is that my fish lived at least 5 years in my care.
Obviously, a varying environment is infinitely harder to manage than a static one and sticking assorted fish in a confined glass box is far, far from the natural environment, no matter how well we manage water parameters, so a compromise is reached.
I never said that my fish merely survived and your implication that that was all they were doing is both unwarranted and unwelcome, given neither of us have the evidence of the tank before us. Again, I appreciate the 'why' of your comments and whilst I am more than capable of answering my own question, I was curious as to the thoughts of the aquarists in the Forum.
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