My goldfish has been large for two to three months. Twice her width. Her size increased after a water change. She appears healthy and active and the male is prodding her and chasing. The water was cold, so I installed a heater hoping she would be urged to spawn. Is it too late for her to spawn? Will she become sick if she does not spawn? How long can she hold the eggs? HELP!!! I have already prepared the nursery. Is there something else I can do to encourage the process?
2006-12-07 03:48:58 · 11 answers · asked by ciniclone 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
I apologize for some of the previous answers. People can be pretty heartless when they don't have to look you in the face.
Anyway, having a goldfish who won't lay eggs is a fairly common thing. As long as she is eating and pooping regularly, I wouldn't worry too much about it. While I have never bred my goldfish, I have heard of a few ways of enticing reluctant females to spawn. First, try giving her something new to nibble on. Some cut up peas or a cucumber slice would be best. Sometimes, just stimulating their digestive track might be enough. If not, put a new plant in the tank, preferably a live leafy one. Avoid the hard plastic ones. It could be that your fish cannot find a spot she likes to lay her eggs. By changing her environment a bit, you might trigger her impulse to spawn.
If nothing works, don't freak out. A female who doesn't release her eggs can absorb most of them back into her body. What's left over will find it's way out eventually. Just keep an eye on her eating habits. As long as she is eating and pooping, she's OK.
Be sure to check out http://www.goldfishparadise.com if you have further questions. The forum there is phenomenl.
2006-12-07 04:32:11 · answer #1 · answered by ratzerman 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
she'll shoot out thousands of eggs so be prepared....Obviously you won't be able to take care of thousands of fries... go a head and let the fish eat the eggs... grab a few (50?) from the tank.. and put it in a 10 gallon tank... The fish won't take care of the fries.
take the time to be prepare for the fries.. set up a nursery tank... use 50% partial water from the old tank so that it'll set up really quick. And make some infurosia... get some brine shrimp eggs... and fry food.
2006-12-07 04:30:41 · answer #2 · answered by professorminh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Breeding aquarium fish is one of the steps to becoming a skilled aquariast. Once fish are kept healthy enough to spawn, the novice knows that they can attempt to keep more challenging fish. In order to breed a species, the aquariast usually needs to be able to distinguish between the sexes and to be able to recreate natural conditions to stimulate spawning. Of course you know that you will have to have a male fish with her to fertilize the eggs.
2006-12-07 03:59:30 · answer #3 · answered by john h 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Just let nature take it's course. Look online for the gestation period for pregnant goldfish!
2006-12-07 03:51:42 · answer #4 · answered by marie1257 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
she might just be fat. but no way of knowing until she lays her eggs. be patient
2006-12-07 03:51:50 · answer #5 · answered by raz p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
STOP LOOKING!!
She's probably shy!!
Let them be undisturbed and nature will take it's course!
Cheers
Kaz
2006-12-07 08:45:44 · answer #6 · answered by <^^Em^^> 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Must you control everything? Let her lay her eggs when she is ready.
2006-12-07 03:50:06 · answer #7 · answered by Mama R 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
she will lay when she is ready you really cant force her and be healthy
2006-12-07 04:17:13 · answer #8 · answered by weebles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Schedule her for a sea-section.
2006-12-07 03:51:56 · answer #9 · answered by stevijan 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
squeeze the fish real hard
2006-12-07 03:50:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋