I ask for two reasons. One, I have HSB that were stocked in 2018 and would like to know how much longer they will be around. Two, from what I can tell there seems to be little agreement on the subject, even among experts.

Three to five years, says one. Five years, another. Five to six years. Five to seven years. At least eight years. And, my favorite, a Florida site claims THIRTY years!

Of course, I know the easy answer: It depends. Depends on what, exactly? Temperatures? Do HSB north of the Mason-Dixon line live longer due to less summer heat stress? Or does forage play a role? How about alkalinity? Availability of open water? Availability of deep water?

Tried sites which discussed how HSB are raised commercially, but couldn't find any info on natural lifespan there, either.

7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160