It is equally amazing to consider the fact that the 255-year old tortoise started out life not much bigger than a mini-marshmallow.

I'll see your Matilda the Chicken and raise you Mike (new window). He only lived for two years, but 18 months of that was after his farking head was cut off.

My 19 yr old Iguana died 3 years ago.

Ivo Shandor: I'll see your Matilda the Chicken and raise you Mike (new window). He only lived for two years, but 18 months of that was after his farking head was cut off.

Came here to post the same thing.



And he only died because he choked on his food.

Ivo Shandor: I'll see your Matilda the Chicken and raise you Mike (new window). He only lived for two years, but 18 months of that was after his farking head was cut off.

...were he successfully served out the remainder of his term in the US Congress.

I have a Green Iguana who is 17 now. Most live 2-3 years.

clovis69: I have a Green Iguana who is 17 now. Most live 2-3 years.

I have an 18 year old Conure sitting on my hand, and he wont go to bed.

How many times has the tortoise been married?

My cat Jessica was born June 1973 and died in January 2000. My vet said she was the oldest he had ever seen.

/RIP kitty
//still miss her

My parents have tortoises. The tortoises are already in their forties, but my parents want to know they'll be cared for when they get old. (In another ninety years-ish!) So I get 'where grandchildren' rumblings from them now and again.

They are great pets, the longevity is the only downside.

I have a 32768 year old coral, if you're into that sort of thing.

Kilgore Trout: My cat Jessica was born June 1973 and died in January 2000. My vet said she was the oldest he had ever seen.

/RIP kitty
//still miss her

My 16 year old calico died this week, and she was worn down. I can't imagine what Jessica looked like.

That said, where does this guy land?

After his death in 2006, carbon dating on his shell confirmed his age, making him quite possibly the oldest living creature ever, and almost certainly the oldest living vertebrate.

Somebody forgot about the trees. (new window)

That's nothing. I"ve had the same farking cold for the past 4 farking weeks.

My family has an African green singing finch that we bought 23 years ago, when it was still legal to sell them in the US. Normal life expectancy: about 7 years. She's still just plugging along there. Has cute conversations with the birds outside.

I keep telling my dad we should find out about a world record thingie, but he says there's no way to prove she's as old as she is.

hogans: After his death in 2006, carbon dating on his shell confirmed his age, making him quite possibly the oldest living creature ever, and almost certainly the oldest living vertebrate.

Somebody forgot about the trees. (new window)

The dictionary says "creature" means animal.

My cat's going to be 19 in a couple of months, and she's only just started to slow down (she's on a kidney-disease diet now). She's still got a decent turn of speed when she thinks it's dinnertime, though.

Dad has sworn she won't outlive him. He's promised that when he's on his deathbed, he'll ask for the cat and then choke the life out of her.

I have a a 23 year old green iguana who's still going strong and I believe the record to beat is 29. Sadly, his vet tells me most captive iggys never make it past 7. :^(

Happy Hours: jonny_q: hogans: After his death in 2006, carbon dating on his shell confirmed his age, making him quite possibly the oldest living creature ever, and almost certainly the oldest living vertebrate.

Somebody forgot about the trees. (new window)

The dictionary says "creature" means animal.

And I'm no biologist, but don't vertebrates have spinal columns or something usually made of bone?

If you are referring to the tortoise, the spine is fused to the inside of the shell... I believe.

Meatzilla: [27.media.tumblr.com image 640x800]

It is equally amazing to consider the fact that the 255-year old tortoise started out life not much bigger than a mini-marshmallow.

That is painfully cute.

I knew a kid who had a pet rat for like 12 years -lost him our third year of school.

Had a greyhound who lived to 16 years. The vet told me that was quite unusual. My dog, Harry, was fed fresh food the entire time he was part of the family (13 years) with kibble as snack-time only.

I think his diet had a lot to do with it. I know it can be a challenge, but if you can feed your pet fresh instead of that bagged rubbish, it's probably a step in the right direction.

And, a shameless plug: if you're considering a dog, I hope you'll consider a greyhound. Particularly a retired race dog. They are utterly wonderful pets, companion, etc.

We fed our dog bagged rubbish. She was at least 20 when she died.

CitizensUnited: I knew a kid who had a pet rat for like 12 years -lost him our third year of school.

I see what you did there...