Meet Methuselah, the World’s Oldest Aquarium Fish

Methuselah just might be the oldest fish in a zoological setting on Earth. Known as the Australian or Queensland lungfish, it’s 4-feet long and one of only six living species of air-breathing lungfish. Methuselah came to San Francisco on a steamship from Australia back in 1938. Since then, it has been kept at Steinhart Aquarium, which is one of the most biologically diverse and interactive aquariums in the world. Inside Edition Digital’s Stephanie Officer explains.

[History-Secrets]

Historical Fish.... Awesome!
Hope she gets much more healthy years!

[Zinnshady]

“Lesser evolved organisms” have the capacity for affection in its purest form and I personally love that this concept is becoming more accepted across the scientific community. Even primitive fish and reptiles respond to proper, gentle human care with interest and pleasure!

[sandramorey]

I have known Methuselah all my life.. My mother and I went to the Aquarium complex through the 1940's, 50's and I have been a few times since they started to charge so much. I wish I had known about her history a long time ago, but I'm glad to know now. btw: I'm 82 so I'll be interested to see how old she is now. She's always been a big girl.

[charlesshepherd]

I never thought I'd say this about a fish...but she seems so sweet. Pet a fish? Yes please 🐟

[MamaPinks]

I've seen her many times over the years. As a teen, I used to go to the aquarium every weekend. Its was like $5.00 back then to get in.

[dariomolina]

I heard these fish could live up to 100 years. Grandad was another Australian lungfish that lived at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He might have been over 100 when he died in 2017. Grandad was an adult when first displayed in 1933.

Edit: Grandad was the lungfish’s name, NOT my grandpa 😂😂

She seems so sweet she lets humans let her

[Tyexx]

This creature shows wisdom in its comfort around humans, must be from it’s years 🤔

[collinscott]

May she continue to eat, sleep, and live well for many years to come! ❤️

[huntercool]

It’s fascinating how old some animals can actually live to be.

[sylviabennan]

Wow, never knew there were fish that could have both gills and lungs— plus the fact that she’s 90? Amazing!

[caseclosed]

This fish lived with humans through the Great Depression, WW2, the Cold War, the Civil Rights era, 9/11, the Great Recession and COVID-19. Amazing how much we as humans change but this fish just does what it always has…

[Ipetam]

What a cutie! She's very gentle and graceful!

[blobbertmcblob]

"Apparently she's been old her whole life"

Same, honestly.

[GrandpaStories]

This is amazing, someone fishes don't live past 3 years, and this fish is older than my lil siblings. That is awesome.

[nicoleb]

This fish has already lived long enough, at this aquarium, to see at least 20 generations of employees come and go, from young to old and she wasn't even young pup herself when she arrived. Amazing. I don't know what the lifespan of her species is but I hope she gets to reach the big 1-double 0. Here's to many, many more healthy years to you, Methuselah!

[gidmichigan]

This fish lived before WW2 started, that’s insane.

[isaac]

1938? Mad respect to the aquarium for maintaining perfect temperatures/environment 24/07 for a fish, 90 plus years straight which is the hardest thing to do.

*Yeah today would be about 84 yrs in the aquarium but if the fish was already roughly 6 yrs old at the time, it would be 90’ish(the fish)… this is for the so called self proclaimed ‘smarty pants’ mad that I said 90 plus yrs on the aquarium as if it matters as the point was made. Regardless, it’s a very long time.😝

[wolfofyourstreet]

Imagine being stuck in a tank that small for one hundred years.

[raybarbie]

That’s so cool I had no clue fish could live that long