I had a beta fish we used in an experiment for AP Biology (yes, we had to observe the fighting activity of two males, but we didn't let them abuse each other much). Anyway, he lived until I went away for a weekend and my Mom decided to give him an air hose so he could breathe better. Of course, betas are surface-breathing fish, and he got trapped in the hose and couldn't get to the surface to breathe. Talk about irony. She felt bad, but he lived about 8 months after the experiment which was longer than any other fish I ever had lived (cheap goldfish).
12 yrs is a long time for any pet, though. Sayin'.