How Long Can A Schooling Fish Live Alone? (Explained)

It’s a common misconception that fish can only live for about three years. This is often the case, but there are many factors that affect longevity in aquarium fish.

Some of them have an increased risk of mortality due to their genetics or environment, while others enjoy a longer life span because of their species or living conditions.

I’m going to cover how long different types of schooling fish can live alone and the factors affecting this lifespan.

Keeping “Schooling” Fish In Real World Circumstances

Takeaways
Schooling fish thrive when kept in groups rather than alone.
Keeping schooling fish alone can lead to stress, loneliness, and behavioral issues.
The lifespan of schooling fish kept alone may vary depending on the species and environmental conditions.
Providing companions of the same species is recommended for the well-being and longevity of schooling fish.
Keeping schooling fish alone can result in increased stress levels, diminished immune system function, and abnormal behavior.

Table of Contents

Where The Fish Is From

If you get your pet fish at a local store, it’s likely that they are used to the water conditions of that area and will not need any adjustment.

If you purchase your pet online or in another state or country, then it’s important to research what kind of water conditions are best for them.

Water requirements: There are many different types of schooling fish out there, but most all of them require similar things from their environment in terms of temperature and numbers per tank size. When choosing who lives with whom in your aquarium, keep this in mind so as not to upset the balance!

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The Species Of Fish

The species of fish you choose to keep as a singleton will make a big difference in how long they live. Some species are more social than others, and some don’t need to be kept in groups.

But there’s also the matter of activity level, which affects how much swimming room your fish will need in order to feel comfortable and happy in its enclosure.

Fish Species	Average Lifespan	Maximum Size	Preferred Water Temperature
Goldfish	10-15 years	6-18 inches	65-72°F (18-22°C)
Betta Fish	2-3 years	2.25 inches	76-82°F (24-28°C)
Guppy	1-3 years	1.5-2 inches	75-82°F (24-28°C)
Neon Tetra	3-5 years	0.75 inches	70-81°F (21-27°C)
Angelfish	10-12 years	6 inches	75-82°F (24-28°C)

Genetics

Genetics play a role in how long fish live, but not all fish are created equal. Some breeds of fish are more resilient than others and can therefore live longer than average.

This is because genes from both parents are passed down to their offspring, so if one parent has a gene that makes it live longer and another with a shorter life span, then the child will have an average lifespan somewhere between the two.

However, genetics aren’t set in stone when it comes to this; they can also be altered through selective breeding.

For example, many types of salmon have been selectively bred over time to grow faster than their ancestors did this resulted in an increase in size but also increased mortality rates due to disease and predation by predators such as eagles or bears (depending on where they’re located).

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Size Of Tank

As you might have guessed, the larger a tank is, the more space it gives your fish to swim around. The bigger the tank, the more fish it can hold.

A larger tank also means that you won’t have to buy as many filters and accessories all of these things are proportional to how many gallons make up your aquarium’s volume.

In other words: A larger aquarium requires less maintenance because there’s less waste in it!

But just like having too much money in your bank account can be bad for you (or at least boring), so too can having an overly large aquarium be bad for your pet fish’s health.

Because they’re living their lives in such close proximity with one another (and all those filters), they’re likely experiencing stress from being crowded together while competing over resources like food and oxygen levels within their tanks’ water columns.

Temperature

Temperatures are an important factor for fish, and must be kept between 70 and 80 degrees. If the temperature is too high, your fish may develop a disease called ich. If it is too low, the fish may develop swim bladder disease.

Fish Species	Minimum Temperature (°F)	Maximum Temperature (°F)
Goldfish	65	75
Betta Fish	76	82
Guppy	75	82
Neon Tetra	70	81
Angelfish	75	82

Water Quality

Water quality is another important aspect for fish to live a long, healthy life. The water in your tank can become polluted by too many fish or by the residue of food and feces.

You can test the pH levels with a test kit that’s available online or in pet stores. Some test kits will tell you how often you should test your water, but newer ones are designed to detect ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels as well.

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Whether Or Not The Fish Has A Mate Already

If the fish has a mate, they will live longer. However, it depends on how long they lived with their previous mates. If the fish hasn’t had any previous mates, then it’s more likely to die than if it did.

For example: A barramundi that is 3 years old can live up to 8 years as an adult in captivity and around 15 years as a juvenile in its natural habitat without a mate or other companionship, which would be an average lifespan for this species of fish.

Whether Or Not The Fish Has Friends Already

If you have a school of schooling fish already in your tank, then it’s likely that they won’t mind if you add another to their group.

However, if the tank is completely empty and you plan on putting more than one schooling fish in there at the same time (in addition to any other species of fish), then it’s important that you take some things into account before doing so.

First and foremost, these kinds of fish need other members of their species around them in order to thrive properly they’re hardwired for this type of social interaction!

So if they’re alone for too long and start feeling stressed out or even depressed, then this can have serious impacts on their health down the road.

Sometimes when people get new pets or move them into new homes without realizing how important companionship really is until after all is said and done; this isn’t true only for humans but also applies equally well here as well!

For instance: If someone brings home two goldfishes but doesn’t realize right away there aren’t any others nearby until after they’ve already gone through all those trials together which could’ve been avoided altogether had everyone known beforehand what was best instead…

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Availability Of Food Sources

Even if you’re diligent about feeding your fish, food sources can be scarce if you’re keeping them alone. If the fish is not eating, it will die.

As such, one of the most important factors in determining how long a schooling fish can live alone is whether there are enough food sources available for it to survive.

If there are no other fish in the tank with your lonely fishy friend and there are no plants or algae growing in the tank itself (which would make up an important part of its diet), then it’s likely that your lonely friend will starve to death before long.

On top of this, if you notice that your schooler has stopped eating altogether or even seems like it might not have been eating well then consider separating this individual from its school until things improve.

Fish Species	Pellets	Flakes	Frozen Food	Live Food
Goldfish	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Betta Fish	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Guppy	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Neon Tetra	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Angelfish	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Amount Of Space In The Tank To Swim Around And Explore

You will need to provide your fish with enough space to swim, explore, play and hide as well as breed.

A general rule of thumb is that each fish should have about 10 gallons (37.85 liters) of tank space for every inch (2.54 cm) of its length, so a 2-inch long fish needs 20 gallons (75 liters) of tank space and a 5-inch long fish needs 50 gallons (189 liters).

As far as length goes, most schooling species are usually small enough that they do not need more than 20 – 30 gallons per individual.

However, this rule does not always hold true; some species grow up to be quite large even though they start out small!

So if you have any doubts about whether or not your chosen pet can thrive in the chosen aquarium size, always err on the side of caution and buy an extra heater or filter than what your calculations suggest would be necessary based on their size alone.

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Conclusion

While it’s hard to say exactly how long a schooling fish can live alone, there are many factors that play into the equation.

If your fish has a mate and friends already, then he or she will likely live longer than if they are alone with no one to care for them.

The same goes for water quality – if there are too many toxins in the tank then your fish’s lifespan will be shorter than normal. If you want an answer that is more specific than just “it depends on many things,” then we encourage you to do your research!

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about schooling fish:

What are schooling fish?

Schooling fish are species that exhibit a behavior known as schooling, where they swim closely together in a coordinated manner. This behavior provides benefits such as increased protection against predators and improved foraging efficiency.

Can schooling fish live alone?

While some schooling fish may tolerate being kept alone, it is generally not recommended as it can lead to stress, loneliness, and behavioral issues. Schooling fish thrive when kept in groups, so it’s best to provide them with companions of the same species.

How long can schooling fish live alone?

The lifespan of schooling fish kept alone can vary depending on the species and environmental conditions. However, the overall well-being and longevity of schooling fish are typically improved when they are kept in groups.

What are the potential consequences of keeping schooling fish alone?

Keeping schooling fish alone can result in increased stress levels, diminished immune system function, and abnormal behavior. These consequences can negatively impact the health and overall well-being of the fish.

How many schooling fish should be kept together?

The number of schooling fish to keep together depends on the specific species and their natural behavior. Research the requirements for the particular species you’re interested in and aim to provide a suitable group size to ensure their social and behavioral needs are met.

Dr. Hellen James (Vet)

I am Dr Hellen James a veterinarian, pet lover, and writer. I have many years of experience caring for pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and fish (and even axolotls!). I love spending time with the animals in my life, especially when they are sick or need love.