How to Spot Goldfish Eggs

Goldfish are prolific breeders and they are easy fish to breed if you are getting started in the aquarium hobby. A female goldfish can produce anywhere from 500 to 1000 eggs in a batch, though not all of the fry will survive. Spotting the goldfish eggs after the female deposits them is an important part of rearing the fry as the adult goldfish will eat the fry if they see them.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium net
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Instructions

    • 1

      Watch for the mating chase. Male goldfish chase down female goldfish shortly before mating with them, and a sign of frenzied activity in the tank means that the pair is getting ready to spawn.

    • 2

      Watch for the female to deposit the eggs. Female goldfish release their eggs in batches, producing small, round, sticky eggs. Once you see the eggs, remove them from the tank immediately using an aquarium net.

    • 3

      Look around the rocks and the vegetation in the breeding tank. Female goldfish leave their eggs in sheltered protected spots in the tank to give the fry a better chance at survival.

    • 4

      Wait for at least 2 hours after the mating chase and keep looking for eggs. A female goldfish may continue to produce eggs for 2 hours after she mates.