First things first. Goldfish never become pregnant. You read that correctly. Only livebearers can be called ‘pregnant’. Egg-layers are goldfish. The right question here is “How long does goldfish gravid last?”

Let’s now get to the core question!

How Long Are Goldfish Pregnant?

Because goldfish are egg-layers they are not considered pregnant. There is no set gestation period. Instead, the fish will be kept gravid until she is ready to fertilize by a male.

How Often Do Goldfish Lay Eggs?

Female goldfish can produce eggs in favorable conditions as often as once per month. The egg-laying frequency can be affected by temperature.

In warmer months, your goldfish will be more likely to become gravid.

How Many Eggs Do Goldfish Lay?

Female goldfish can lay more than a thousand eggs in one session. Parents eat all of their eggs, so not all eggs will fry.

Even though eggs are laid in large numbers, the actual number of fry that make it to adulthood remains low.

What Do Goldfish Eggs Look Like?

The eggs of goldfish have a transparent white color and are sphere-shaped. They don’t grow more than 1mm. They look like tiny beads distributed all over the floor in a tank.

Fertilized VS Unfertilized Goldfish Eggs?

All goldfish eggs are translucent and have a washed out white color when they are first laid. The eggs turn yellowish once fertilized. You can see tiny black dots towards the end of hatching.

Those eggs that were not fertilized will either retain their original form, or become stark white. They will be eaten by their parents, or they will succumb to fungi.

How Long Do Goldfish Eggs Take To Hatch?

It takes between 3 and 5 days for eggs to hatch in Goldfish. Eggs should be properly aerated using a bubbler spray bar or an air stone. I prefer to use air stones.

When the temperature is higher, eggs hatch quicker.

The eggs will hatch faster at 84°F (29°C) than they would at 75°F (24°C).

It is not recommended to raise the temperature suddenly or drastically to speed up the hatching process. This will only lead to disaster.

Do Goldfish Eat Their Eggs?

Unfortunately, yes. Unfortunately, goldfish are terrible parents. Males and females of the fish have no parental instincts. They will eat the eggs immediately after they are laid.

If you want to raise your goldfish fry, it is important that you immediately remove the parents from the eggs once they are fertilized.

Male VS Female Goldfish: How To Tell Them Apart

Due to their subtle sexual dimorphism, it can be difficult to distinguish male from female goldfish. The shape of the body, vents and fins as well as the famous breeding stars can help you differentiate the two sexes.

Their Bodies Are Shaped Differently

Female goldfish are shorter and more round in the abdomen area, as you can see from above. They will look plump when they become gravid because they have 1000s of eggs in their bodies.

However, swelling can sometimes be caused by a bacterial infection.

Males tend to be larger and have a more prominent body than females. They are also shorter and wider in the abdomen.

Their Vents Are Shaped Differently

The vent is found under the anal fin in both sexes. It is a small, protruding organ that emits waste.

The vent will be more prominent towards the start of the spawning season. It is whitish in colour.

Males have a more indented vent than females.

Observe Breeding Stars On Gills, Body, And Fins

Also known as breeding tubercles, breeding stars are also called breeding stars. These tiny white specks look almost like salt grains. These little stars are most likely male goldfish.

These marks are most prominent on the front, pectoral fins, and scales.

These marks don’t always appear in males, however, I must remind you. Sometimes, they are also seen in females!

Fins Have Different Shapes And Length

The fins of a male goldfish will be thicker and longer. A female goldfish has thicker and shorter fins.

Observe The Breeding Signs And Behavior

This is the best way to tell males from females. During the spawning season, you’ll often see the males following the gravid fish.

Sometimes, she will be nudged and pushed.

You’ll see the female running or hiding. She may even get fin injuries from bullying.

Goldfish Pregnant Signs – How Do You Know?

Goldfish are not able to get pregnant. They become gravid. Sorry about the title! I have to include the search terms people are looking for. I apologize.

Other than the obvious weight gain, other signs of pregnancy in glofish include eggs emerging from her vent when she is being picked up, mating rituals or chasing, and the presence of breeding tubercles (males)

Let’s now take a closer look at these signs.

Rounded And Swollen Appearance

My opinion is that a close inspection of a goldfish’s body is the best way to determine if she is pregnant. You’re likely to appear heavier if you have over a thousand eggs.

Your female goldfish will appear chunky, especially around her abdomen. Although she may not always appear super-weight, you will notice her chunkiness.

The Eggs Will Fall Off When You Handle Her

A few eggs may fall off a female goldfish’s body when you are handling it.

Because they can produce so many eggs in one season, it is normal for some eggs to drop off when handling or transferring fish.

However, you should not handle the fish unless absolutely necessary. This will only cause her to be extremely stressed.

She Will Get Bullied

Gravid females will be bullied by their male counterparts, often incessantly, as they try to fertilize their eggs. If a female is constantly being chased by males it can be a sign she is going to lay eggs soon.

They are as primitive as we think they are, but they are very serious about expanding their lineage. They will often compete for females’ affections in un-chivalrous ways.

Despite this, males can be gentle with females. They may also perform intricate mating rituals!

The Males Will Develop Breeding Stars

The breeding season begins and males will begin to develop tiny white dots on their bodies. These are known as breeding stars. These are actually breeding tubercles, as I have explained.

This does not necessarily mean that the female is gravid. It could also indicate that the male is ready for spawning.

Watch Her From The Top

If you are still unsure, here’s the last tip to confirm gestation in goldfish. Take a bird’s-eye view of the fish and observe it from the top. You will notice that the stomach on the pregnant fish is much larger than the other.

The side housing eggs will appear larger and more swollen.

What’s The Ideal Temperature For Breeding Goldfish?

The hardwired nature of goldfish is to reproduce during warmer seasons. If you raise the temperature, the fish will take the cue from the thermostat and start spawning.

Although goldfish can reproduce at temperatures between 10-26 degrees C (50 to 78 degrees F), the ideal temperature for spawning is 20 degrees C (68 degree F).

How To Set Up a Goldfish Breeding Tank?

To start breeding goldfish, you will need at least a 30-gallon tank. It is important to replicate the original tank’s conditions as closely as you can.

Install a good filtration system, lots of plants, such as hornwort, and a heater to keep the temperature stable.

A spawning mop can be a lifesaver. This mop will not only protect your fry and eggs from their parents, but it will also make it much easier to transfer them into separate tanks once they hatch.

How To Set Up A Goldfish Fry Tank? And How To Care For Them?

For goldfish fry, a 10-gallon tank is sufficient. A tank larger than this will make it hard for tiny fry to find food. They are also very susceptible to starvation at an early stage of their lives.

The substrate can be left bare to make it more difficult for the fry find food.

A sponge filter is a good choice for filtration. It doesn’t get in your fry. Regular water changes are a must.

For the first few days after hatching, the fry will be dependent on the yolk sac. You don’t have to feed them before then.

Here’s what you can feed them around the fifth day after they start free-swimming.

• Infusoria
• Baby brine shrimp
• Egg yolk paste
• Microworms

Frequently Asked Question

How Often To Feed Pregnant Goldfish?

An adult goldfish can eat one meal per day. A gravid female goldfish will have eggs and court her suitors. Thus, you must fortify her diet for extra energy.

You can feed her twice- or thrice per day to gauge her health and dietary requirements.

You can feed her protein-rich foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, or daphnia once a week.

Here’s a video detailing everything, from the courting process to the development of fry’s. Don’t miss it!

When Do Goldfish Mature Sexually?

At 1 year old, Goldfish become sexually mature. At this time, they measure approximately 4 inches in length.

Final Words: How Long Are Goldfish Pregnant?

The egg-laying species of goldfish is the goldfish They do not get pregnant. They become gravid instead. Gravid refers to fish that carries eggs within their bodies.

It turns out there is no definitive gestation period. The female will continue to carry eggs inside her body until the eggs are ready for fertilization by males.

Egg-scatterers are Goldfish. They also eat their own eggs. Even though they lay thousands upon thousands of eggs, only a few of them make it to the top.

If you are serious about breeding goldfish, we recommend that you get a mop to clean the tank and remove the parents immediately after the spawning has finished.