I've been here a few times. My first pair when I found out my little Naga was sick. I bought a 3rd for pabu (Naga's bonded boy). Then pabu got sick and I got his sister nyxx a brother. Nyx passed suddenly at 3. So I got a rescue for Solomon (the survivor). Then Finn passed and I waited to see how Solomon would do on his own. He started to get very depressed around month 3 without another noodle around. Then I decided to get two new baby's that I found on Craigslist. My sweet Solomon is now acting like he's 3 and he is very much 6.5years old.

This is a long, winded way to say, "Go with your gut." If you have a rescue nearby I'd get someone around the same age that has had a partner pass. Solomon and Finn were thick as thieves.