How to Stimulate Breeding in Goldfish

Goldfish are among the most common types of household pets. Children bring them hope from carnivals as prizes, and countless aquariums display this species. If you are a serious fish enthusiast, you may want to take your hobby a bit further and begin breeding your fish. This can be challenging, but with the right information you will soon be on your way to creating the right conditions to breed your goldfish.

Things You'll Need

  • Goldfish
  • Fish tank
  • Protein-rich fish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose goldfish that are the proper breeding age. To maximize your chances of success, begin with goldfish between two or three years of age.

    • 2

      Maintain proper gender ratios among the fish. You should have two male goldfish for every female. Male goldfish typically have white, hard spots on their gills and pectoral fins. In addition, a male is generally thinner and longer that the female. The female goldfish will have a swollen, soft abdomen.

    • 3

      Create a suitable breeding environment. The female can lay up to 10,000 eggs in a spawning. You will need a minimum of a 20-gallon tank to ensure that the fish are comfortable in their breeding environment.

    • 4

      Feed your goldfish a healthy, protein-rich fish food. Well-nourished goldfish will spawn more readily than undernourished fish. In addition, this will result in healthier eggs that are more apt to hatch and survive.

    • 5

      Attempt breeding during warm months. The change in water temperature from cold to warm is one of the most significant means of stimulating breeding. You can wait for warmer summer months, or manually change the temperature of your aquarium by two degrees a day until the temperature is 20 degrees Celsius.