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Types of Goldfish Mating

Goldfish display relatively uniform mating patterns in many habitats. Goldfish mating is called spawning. It is different than the mating patterns of other animals because little contact between the fish is required, and males fertilize the eggs laid by females after they are outside of her body. Spawning is the beginning and the end of parenting for goldfish.

Timeline
- Goldfish reach reproductive maturity at about two years old. They usually breed in the summer when food is plentiful for new offspring, which hatch about five days after eggs are fertilized, in water between 64 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Behavior
- During breeding season, females eat primarily live food such as worms, larvae and brine shrimp, giving their bodies extra energy and protein to produce eggs. Each season, a single pair of goldfish will produce and fertilize more than 1,000 eggs. Many of these eggs and young fish are lost to predators, keeping populations of predators and prey healthy and balanced.
Ready For Mating
- You can tell if a female is ready to breed when she becomes round as eggs begin to develop inside of her. Males that are ready to spawn develop small bumps on their gills and fins called "breeding tubercles." The presence of milt, the male's sperm, indicates reproductive maturity. You can also tell when two goldfish are ready to mate when the colors of their scales become especially vibrant.
Locations
- Goldfish mate in parts of a stream, pond or lake that are ideal for spawning, such as underwater plants and other forms of roughage where the eggs can nestle. Eggs affix to whatever they land on and need these plants or rocks for protection from rough currents or predators.
Spawning
- Goldfish usually spawn in the early morning because fish are most active in the hours just before sunrise, and the spawning process requires a great deal of energy. If fish were to spawn later in the day, the process would not be as efficient since great exertion is required by both male and female. Fish begin to swim together in small groups, with males chasing females. Eventually, each male singles out a female and peruses her aggressively, pushing her against rocks and plants beneath the water. Finally, the female releases the unfertilized eggs she has been carrying. They fall to the floor of the stream or pond and catch in plant material and stones. The male ejects a stream of milt, which fertilizes the eggs. The eggs lie dormant in the place where they have fallen until they hatch. The fish rest for eight to 10 days. By then the female has generated new eggs, and the process repeats.

Animals & Science