A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 Goldfish Question

Originally posted by afgreyparrot:
Maybe I need to buy a goldfish book.
I googled "goldfish sex" and couldn't come up with anything.

In goldfish and Siamese fighting fish, the female can be mortally injured during mating. Goldfish may be pummelled into the sand; Siamese fighting fish may be squeezed too energetically by males hoping to extract extra eggs.

Originally posted by loz:
Try goldfish reproduction!

GOLDFISH MATING HABITS!!! (SHOCKING!!) Not really. But it makes for a good show. When the water warms up, you will see one fish chasing another (or a whole production of fish doing this) madly through the tank. No, they are not fighting! The male smells the female's ripened eggs (still in her egg sac) and chases her. As she swims, she lays the eggs (hundreds, probably thousands of them). They are compressed, in her body. When they hit the water, they expand, but they are still small. The male will fertilize the eggs as they descend. It can be quite a frenzied sight, so MAKE SURE the tank cover is on securely (as it should ALWAYS be). The fish can also both get SUPER TIRED from mating, so it would be a good idea to separate the males from the females if you don't want this behavior (one tank for each the guy fish will get together and chew the fat "Hey, that lady fish yeah, I usta know her", or something like that, and the lady fish will probably discuss the latest in flowing fins. Just kidding.)


HOW OFTEN DO THEY MATE??? They could do it every week if they are physically capable of it. That means, lots of eggs to clean out, and it does smell (although they will eat some eggs, most of them don't get eaten). Well, maybe you could let them mate once, and then separate them. Goldfish CANNOT be spayed or neutered.

the female can be mortally injured during mating.

They will probably all end up looking alike!

Originally posted by afgreyparrot:
I took some food out to them to try to calm them down for awhile...don't know if that was a good or bad idea.
They all stopped what they were doing and started devouring the food.

Have you cought any fish out yet by any chance?

What kind of goldfish are they?

Did not know those lil things got so big!

Originally posted by loz:
[QB] I always read they get pretty big depending on the size of the pond.

I'm so glad you posted this

Well, maybe you could let them mate once, and then separate them. Goldfish CANNOT be spayed or neutered

you could trade the fish for other stuff, or sell some on ebay or whatever.

Last week they were exhibiting classic mating behavior. I think because I put some fake plants in the tank last week.

The Male goldfish will chase the female goldfish around the tank endlessly (sometimes even tearing and hurting her fins). The female goldfish will become very tired and will release her eggs, sometimes by the hundreds or thousands, all over the tank. Most of them will stick to the plants. The male goldfish will spray his milt over the eggs and the tank will get a cloudy appearance (don't change the water!). After about three to four hours the courtship should stop.

Originally posted by afgreyparrot:
My 5 original goldfish turned into almost 80 in my small pond, so I had to build a bigger pond for the 80. I can't keep building bigger ponds.