How old do fish live to?

It's impossible to give a single answer to how long fish live because there are over 30,000 species of fish with vastly different lifespans.

Here's a breakdown:

Short-lived fish:

* Many small, tropical fish: Live only a few months to a year (e.g., guppies, neon tetras).

* Some baitfish: Can live for a couple of years (e.g., herring, anchovies).

Medium-lived fish:

* Common freshwater fish: Can live for 5-10 years (e.g., goldfish, bass, catfish).

* Some marine species: Can live for 10-20 years (e.g., cod, tuna).

Long-lived fish:

* Deep-sea fish: Some can live for several decades or even centuries.

* Sharks: Many species can live for 50-100 years (e.g., Greenland shark can live for over 400 years!).

* Other large, slow-growing fish: Can live for 30-50 years (e.g., sturgeon, halibut).

Factors affecting fish lifespan:

* Species: This is the most important factor.

* Environment: Water temperature, food availability, and presence of predators all play a role.

* Individual variation: Just like humans, some fish are simply more resilient than others.

So, it's more accurate to ask how long a specific species of fish lives.