A streams manager monitors data tuples processed by a streaming application represented by an operator graph. The streams manager includes a tuple breakpoint mechanism that allows defining a tuple breakpoint that fires when a tuple has been in the operator graph too long. What constitutes too long can be defined in a number of different ways, including a time limit, a processing limit for multiple operators, and a processing limit for an individual operator. When the tuple breakpoint fires, one or more operators in the operator graph are halted according to specified halt criteria. Information corresponding to the breakpoint that fired is then displayed. The tuple breakpoint mechanism thus provides a way to debug a streaming application that may have data tuples that stay in the operator graph too long.