Some of these fish will outlive your skincare routine while others barely make it past a Spotify free trial.
Most people think fish are low effort, low drama, and low lifespan. But aquarium life has its own chaotic curveballs, and not every fish is built for the long haul. Some of them are practically eternal roommates who see multiple generations of pets come and go. Others? They flake faster than a bad date. If you’re getting into fishkeeping thinking all of them will chill for years, you might be setting yourself up for heartbreak, or worse, expensive tank resets.
Some fish are basically swimming investment pieces. Others are moodboard creatures that disappear before you even finish naming them. This list spills both types, because if you’re gonna spend time feeding something every day, you at least deserve to know which ones ghost and which ones stay.
1. Ropefish look like sea noodles but can outlive your lease.
This one feels made up until you see it doing laps through your plants like a chill eel on vacation. Ropefish, also called reedfish, are long, bendy, and slightly prehistoric, according to Elcid Roilo at Britannica. They’re not your basic tank fish and that’s part of the appeal. People keep them because they’re low-key stunning and don’t act like they’re constantly on edge.
What most people don’t realize is that they live for up to 20 years when the water quality stays right and the tank has plenty of places to hide. That’s longer than most people keep the same phone number. Ropefish are chill during the day, more active at night, and extremely good at escaping tanks with weak lids. They’re not aggressive, but they will eat smaller fish if you’re careless with tankmates.
They’re also not shy about showing off once they settle in. This isn’t a fish that hides behind the filter forever. Once it vibes with the tank, it cruises like it owns the place. If you’re patient with them, ropefish become one of those long-haul species that make your tank feel more like an ecosystem and less like a screensaver.
2. Oscars will remember your face and possibly hate it for years.
You can’t casually own an Oscar. This is a fish that bonds with its person and watches you like a roommate who never leaves the couch. If you walk past the tank, they follow. If you’re late feeding them, they’ll sulk. Oscars are dramatic in the way that only very smart fish can be, as reported by Brianna Shane at Aquarium Science. But once you’re in, you’re in for a while.
These fish easily live 10 to 15 years, but some outlast that if you’re on top of water changes. They grow big and get attitudes to match, especially if you try to redecorate their tank or add a new fish without permission. Not a community fish by any stretch. Oscars prefer space, a few places to duck into when they feel antisocial, and routines they can count on.
They’ll eat almost anything and destroy your aquascape if it messes with their vibe. Still, they’re a favorite for people who want a fish that actually interacts, not just swims in circles. This is the kind of fish that makes you question what fish are actually capable of understanding.
3. Clown loaches age like fine wine if you have the patience.
They don’t look like much at the store. Usually just a few orange and black stripes with a vibe like they’re hiding from responsibility. But clown loaches are sneaky in the best way, as stated by Shirlie Sharpe at The Spruce Pets. They grow slow, they don’t act flashy, and they don’t always thrive in basic beginner tanks. Give them time though, and you get a fish that can live 15 to 20 years and become the stable core of a whole aquarium crew.
People sleep on them because they start small. But these fish get chunky, social, and weirdly playful. They chirp, literally. You can hear them making noises if the room’s quiet enough and they’re in the mood. They also form squads. You need at least three, preferably more, or they’ll get anxious and spend their time hiding behind driftwood like moody theater kids.
Once they get comfortable, they’ll lay around in ridiculous positions, pile on each other, and take over the bottom level of the tank like they signed a lease. They’re not about speed. They’re about comfort. And they’ll stay with you longer than most TikTok trends.
4. Fancy goldfish are not disposable unless you completely mess up.
People treat goldfish like some starter pet you give to a kid who forgets to brush their teeth, according to the experts at the National Geographic. But the fancy ones, the ones with telescopic eyes or bubbly heads, are legit aquarium lifers. When they’re not stuck in tiny bowls, they can live 10 to 20 years without blinking an eye. Some even push past 30, no drama.
Here’s the part that trips people up. Goldfish aren’t low maintenance. They poop like it’s their job and they need serious filtration to stay healthy. But if you do the work, they give back in longevity and weird charm. Each one develops its own quirks. Some like to be hand-fed. Others swim upside down when they’re bored. They get used to routines and recognize the person who brings the food.
People who write off fancy goldfish just haven’t seen one thrive. Give them space, give them a solid filter, and they’ll turn your tank into a slow-moving, floaty art piece that lasts longer than your last relationship.
5. Kuhli loaches are basically tiny weird snakes that don’t die.
They look like living pasta with stripes. Kuhli loaches are super small, bendy, and weirdly good at not dying as long as the tank isn’t an actual disaster. These fish can live over 10 years and still spend most of that time hiding under a rock like it’s their permanent job assignment. But they’re not boring, just introverted.
They’re peaceful, unbothered by drama, and really just want a soft substrate, a few places to curl up, and zero spotlight. Some people forget they even have them until the tank lights go off and they come out in little wormy squads. But if you’re someone who gets joy out of spotting a rare little guy sneak around, Kuhli loaches never disappoint.
They’re practically built for planted tanks where everything looks cozy and mysterious. You won’t get daily shows, but you will get long term consistency. These are the background characters who never leave the series.
6. Convict cichlids are tough, territorial, and practically immortal.
If you’ve ever wanted a fish that behaves like it’s running a biker gang, meet the convict cichlid. These little striped maniacs are feisty, bold, and completely convinced that the tank belongs to them. They’re not huge, but they carry themselves like they’re ten times their size. And when it comes to sticking around, they’ve got serious staying power—easily reaching 10 years or more with decent care.
They’re one of the few species that will aggressively defend a cave, a rock, a fake plant, or anything else they’ve decided is home base. Once they pair up and breed, forget about it. They become a tag team that’ll take on anything that swims too close, and they raise their fry like overprotective parents. It’s kind of wild watching how committed they are.
They’re not ideal for peaceful tanks, but if you want attitude, character, and a fish that lives for the drama, convicts are your ride or die. They’re basically the reality TV villains of the aquarium world, but with actual staying power. You’ll get more than a decade of chaotic fish energy, and honestly, it’s kind of addictive once you’re used to it.
7. Bristlenose plecos look prehistoric and stick around like they signed a lease.
There’s something oddly charming about a fish that spends its entire life suctioned to glass like it’s inspecting the tank for quality control. Bristlenose plecos look like tiny dinosaurs and act like unpaid janitors. They’re not huge, usually maxing out around five inches, but they’ve got that rugged survivor vibe that makes them perfect for long-term setups.
These fish can clock in over a decade of life if they’re given space, driftwood to rasp on, and a low-key environment. They don’t need flashy tankmates or complicated diets. They just want stability and enough algae or wafers to snack on like retirees in a senior living buffet line. The weird little face whiskers that grow as they age are a whole conversation starter on their own.
People often get them assuming they’re basic clean-up fish, but they end up sticking around so long they start to feel like part of the furniture. Not flashy, not social, but dependable in a way that most fish just aren’t.
8. Firemouth cichlids are peaceful until they’re not, and they live awhile.
At first glance, firemouths seem like one of the more chill cichlids. They’ve got that gorgeous red flare along their throat, swim with grace, and don’t act unhinged on a daily basis. But under that aesthetic coolness is a fish that absolutely knows how to hold a grudge. Firemouths pick their battles, and once they do, they go all in. That said, they’re in it for the long game. A well-cared-for firemouth will stick around for 10 to 15 years, quietly watching and judging everything from their favorite rock.
They do best in tanks where other fish respect personal space. You don’t need to go full solo tank, but if you throw them into a chaotic community setup, don’t be surprised if the firemouth starts setting boundaries with its face. Still, they’re not impossible to manage. If the layout gives them room to claim a spot, they’ll handle most neighbors like seasoned diplomats.
There’s something satisfying about how steady they are once settled. They’ve got that slow burn energy where they don’t dominate the tank every day, but when they do show off or flex, it’s memorable. They’re not flashy on the surface, but they don’t fade into the background either.
9. Silver dollars grow into gentle giants that don’t quit.
They’re kind of plain as babies, but give silver dollars time and they turn into massive, round-bodied swimmers that cruise your tank like slow blimps. These fish can easily make it 10 to 15 years if they’ve got the space. A cramped tank won’t cut it. They need open water, strong filters, and preferably a squad to feel secure. Keeping them in groups of five or more gives them that schooling rhythm where they move together like they’re in some synchronized water ballet.
They’re peaceful, which is a nice change if you’ve been dealing with aggressive species. But don’t assume they’re boring just because they’re polite. They’re also plant assassins. Anything green that isn’t made of silk or plastic? Gone. They’ll nibble down live plants like it’s their full-time job.
Still, if you’ve got the room and the setup, silver dollars are totally worth it. They’re beautiful in motion, calm enough for community tanks, and durable enough to make it through multiple tank upgrades and scaped-overhauls.
10. White cloud mountain minnows usually do not make it past three years.
People see their price tag and assume they’re basically disposable, which is kind of tragic considering how underrated they are in a small tank. White cloud mountain minnows are peaceful, quick to adapt, and surprisingly cute with their shimmery pink and gold coloring. But even with perfect water conditions and a balanced diet, they typically top out around three years old.
They’re native to cooler streams in China, which makes them less suited for tropical tanks and more prone to stress if things get too warm. That alone knocks some months off their life expectancy in a lot of hobbyist setups. They also get overlooked when it comes to healthcare, which speeds things up even more. They’re tiny, and they don’t show signs of illness in obvious ways, so a lot of white clouds quietly decline without anyone realizing what’s happening until it’s too late.
11. Endler’s livebearers do not stick around long despite their constant baby boom.
They breed constantly, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they live long, fulfilling lives. Most Endler’s livebearers hit their peak around one year and are lucky to make it to two. They’re basically just born to breed, and their energy goes into making more fish rather than into lasting longer themselves.
This is one of the few aquarium species where you might be dealing with multiple generations before your first batch even makes it past their first birthday. They thrive in planted tanks, especially when they’re in schools, but they can burn out quickly with any disruptions in water quality. Even tiny ammonia spikes can be enough to knock their timeline way down. They look like they’re built for the long haul because of their constant activity, but in reality they’re on a pretty short clock from the start.
12. Glass catfish tend to vanish long before people expect.
These ghostly looking fish are known for their translucent bodies, but they’re also notorious for not lasting long in home aquariums. Glass catfish are delicate, and while some individuals can make it to five years, many only survive one to two if the setup isn’t exactly right. They need pristine water and stable parameters, and they don’t handle sudden changes very well.
They’re also extremely social and get stressed if kept alone or in small groups, which chips away at their health fast. A lot of people get them because they look cool, but don’t realize how much they depend on structure, plants, and safe hiding spaces. When they start fading, they do it quietly. One day you realize one is gone, then another, until only one remains and you’re left wondering what went wrong. In less-than-ideal conditions, they simply don’t have a good shot at longevity.
13. Male bettas often die early from stress and tank setup fails.
Everyone knows them, but not everyone keeps them alive long enough to brag. While male bettas can live four or five years, many barely get past year two. They’re often sold in cups, tossed into bowls without heaters, and fed inconsistent diets. Add in boredom, poor filtration, or aggression from tank mates, and it’s no wonder so many crash and burn early.
They’re smart, they get bored, and they need stimulation and clean, warm water to thrive. But because they’re so common, people underestimate how high maintenance they are emotionally and physically. Even something like seeing their reflection too often can create low grade stress that drags on and eventually shortens their life. It’s not a lack of beauty or resilience that gets them. It’s the fact that they’re often set up to fail from the very beginning.
14. Fancy guppies are cute but burn through their lifespans like candles.
You blink and they’re already fading. Fancy guppies are another fish that’s been overbred to the point of fragility. Some still live three to five years in perfect conditions, but a lot of them check out after one or two. They put so much energy into breeding that their bodies just kind of break down early, especially the males.
On top of that, they’re prone to fin rot, parasites, and just about every issue that comes with poor water quality. The bright colors and flashy tails make them favorites for beginners, but they are not as hardy as they look. Even stress from shipping or being chased around by more aggressive tank mates can start a slow decline. They’re beautiful while they’re around, but they are not a long game kind of fish unless you’re ready to stay on top of every detail of their environment.
15. Neon tetras rarely make it past a few years in most tanks.
They are the definition of tiny and disposable in big box pet stores, which is sad considering their wild counterparts can live way longer. In captivity, neon tetras usually last about two to three years, often less if they’re part of a newly cycled tank or a poorly maintained setup. A lot of people keep them in small schools or mix them in tanks with fish that nip at their fins, and it just wears them down.
They are sensitive to water quality, hate fluctuations, and don’t always show early signs of illness. A lot of them are bred overseas and shipped under less-than-ideal conditions before they even hit the store shelf, which knocks their immune systems down a few pegs right off the bat. Even if they’re hardy once established, most neons start their life in someone’s tank already half done with their natural clock.