dezza
Well-known member
Way back in the 60s, a few of us in the Northern Specimen Group decided to investigate the behavior of the most common British freshwater fishes. We spent a lot of time trying to find out if fish slept. We also investigated what the maximum age a particular species of fish might live to.
If I remember right, here is the list.
Barbel: 20 years
Bream: 15 years
Carp: 25 years *
Chub: 14 years
Dace: 6 years
Perch: 7 years
Eels: Unknown
Rudd: 12 years
Roach: 14 years
Tench: 20 years
Pike: 25 years
Brown Trout: 18 years
Rainbow Trout: 4 years
* This was based on the scale reading of Clarissa at the time. We now know that carp can live a whole lot longer.
So what do you think? Mark Wintle has challenged my figure for dace of 6 years.
I think we must also consider predation. Many of the smaller fish these days are subject to predation by pike, zander, perch, cormorants and otters, and therefore do not reach their maximum estimated age.
If I remember right, here is the list.
Barbel: 20 years
Bream: 15 years
Carp: 25 years *
Chub: 14 years
Dace: 6 years
Perch: 7 years
Eels: Unknown
Rudd: 12 years
Roach: 14 years
Tench: 20 years
Pike: 25 years
Brown Trout: 18 years
Rainbow Trout: 4 years
* This was based on the scale reading of Clarissa at the time. We now know that carp can live a whole lot longer.
So what do you think? Mark Wintle has challenged my figure for dace of 6 years.
I think we must also consider predation. Many of the smaller fish these days are subject to predation by pike, zander, perch, cormorants and otters, and therefore do not reach their maximum estimated age.
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