Why do some carnival fish last a long time when you bring them home but some die the next day?

Question

Is it a matter of chance? Or is it how you handle the carnival fish? One time about 7 years ago I brought home a carnival fish that I had won and he lived to be about 5 years old until he passed away. Then there was also another time when I won two carnival fish. One of them died but the other one lived to be older than the first one by a year. Was is it that affects the length of the carnival fishes' lives?

Answer 1

Because it depends if the fish is sick or healthy.........

Answer 2

The fish may not be well cared for before you get them, so it may not be possible to nurse them back to health.

BTW, in good conditions you can expect them to live for around 20 years and grow to a foot long, but to do that you will want a 50gal + tank, or even better, a pond.

But if you get one thats barely alive.. chances aren't good.

Ian

Answer 3

Carnival fish are neglected prizes. Cruel. A fish will sit in the hot sun for days until it dies or is won...they are under fed, if fed at all. You were lucky that two of your carnival fish survived, I do not allow my children to play those games at the carnival due to the lack of care that the carnival employees fail to give these guys. I think that game should be banned for animal cruelty.

Answer 4

Just the general health of the individual fish. Not sure where they get the fish from, and/or how they're treated before use in a carnival, but there's a lot that factors into their lifespan.