longevity of goldfish

[qclabrat]

This spring my first batch of fish which are approach 10 years old are dying off about weekly.
My favorite a large black moor and a good sized shubby passed last week. I've read the fancy varieties of GF only last about 10 years. Does that include the moors and shubbies?
Water chemistry is right as expected and the early string algae starting to dissipate. Pond is about 3 years old with two bog filters which manages the cycles well.

 

[cas]

I had a shubunkin live to 14. He passed this winter. I still have a sarassa that is 14 and a comet that is 15. I don't know about the age of black moors.

 

[qclabrat]

I've heard comets have a longer lifespan of about 15 years. The black moor showed no signs of disease and it's gill looked healthy. I think I have 5 left from the first batch of 14. Three are comets and two are shubbies

 

[Mmathis]

Here is an article.

How Long Do Goldfish Live? (Lifespan of Goldfish) - Pond Informer

Guide to the average lifespan of goldfish and how long goldfish live in ponds, bowls, and aquariums. Information on both common and fancy goldfish.

pondinformer.com

 

[AlyssaFish]

Moors are definitely considered a fancy! Generally, "fancies" are goldfish with round, egg-shaped bodies that have double tails. So typically a shubunkin is not considered a fancy goldfish.

The lifespan of fancy goldfish is incredibly hard to get good information on. The rule of thumb, though, is that the newer the variety (like bubble-eyed or pearlscale) the less robust it is due to a decrease in genetic base and variation in the breed. Older breeds, like fantails and Ryukins, are known to be more robust and long lived. Another factor is how extreme the fish is in body shape. Some ryukins have very extreme proportions, where their bodies are deeper than they are long. When this happens, they are prone to swim bladder issues that can turn into permanent disability. In that state, most people euthanize the fish.

Other factors include where the fish was purchased. Fancies sourced from certain breeders tend to have longer life spans than those picked up from a retailer. This is probably due to having experienced a healthy, stress-free childhood. I would expect fancies picked up from a responsible breeder to live 5-10 years, while one picked up from the pet store I wouldn't be surprise only lasted a few.

And of course, keep in mind the fish's age when it's purchased. The jumbo ones you can purchase for $30 or more tend to be fish that are at the top of their growth. I've heard some say that they might even be retired stock breeders, and so they are already near the end of death.