Do Goldfish Eggs Float? The Answer You Are Looking For

Seeing your goldfish in its breeding season is an exciting experience for any aquarium collector. Similar to the goldfish, its eggs need proper care and protection, thus requiring some basic knowledge from the fish owner. 

So, do goldfish eggs float? How to know when your goldfish is going to breed? If you are wondering about these questions, don’t miss out on the post below.

I will discuss everything you need to know about goldfish eggs in detail. 

Do Goldfish Eggs Float?

The answer is no. Healthy goldfish eggs kept in proper conditions usually stick to the tank’s bottom surface. If you see the goldfish eggs float, they are the unfertilized ones that aren’t going to fry. 

Healthy and fertilized goldfish eggs normally sink to the bottom of the tanks or lay on the rocks and sand. Therefore, goldfish eggs floating is a sign of improper care or an unhealthy problem happening to the eggs. 

One common reason is unfertilized eggs, which have a rounded shape, and a distinctive white color that looks like small bubbles. These eggs will float on the water and won’t fry like normal eggs. 

Another cause of goldfish eggs floating is the lack of carbon dioxide or oxygen in the tank. This phenomenon is commonly seen in aquariums filled with a lot of plants and fish. 

Too many plants will absorb and leave very few oxygens in the water, thus causing the goldfish eggs to float or sink quickly. 

At Which Age Does Goldfish Start Breeding?

In goldfish lifespan, its breeding time comes after one or two years from the fish’s birth. However, goldfish experts advise that you should wait for at least 3 to years to get the highest breeding results. 

How To Tell The Gender Of  A Goldfish?

The most common method is using vent sexing. It’s a process of anal observation to predict the gender of the fish. However, this method is not easy since it requires a lot of experience and practice to tell the right gender. 

If you want to try, get a magnifying glass and look for the fish’s lent beneath its anus, near the anal fin. While female goldfish have larger vents, the male lent is usually darker.

How To Know If A Goldfish Is Going To Breed?

When the goldfish is about to breed, white pimples will appear on its fins and grills. The female goldfish also gets significantly larger since they carry eggs.

How To Successfully Breed Goldfish?

As mentioned above, the ideal age for goldfish for breeding is between 3 and 5 years old. In addition, you should select the healthiest and finest-looking fish for breeding to ensure the high quality of the eggs. 

Another rule is to keep two male goldfish for a female one. If you want to breed eggs from two female goldfish, put four additional male ones. 

Suitable Water Temperature For Breeding 

Creating a suitable environment that resembles goldfish living conditions in the wild is critical for successful breeding. The ideal water temperature is between 35 and 45ºF for the first two months. 

Then, gradually increase the temperature to between 50-­60ºF in the next two months. When the fish is about to breed, continue raising the temperature to 65 -70°F.

Preparing A Breeding Tank

A tank with around 20 to 40 gallons of water is ideal for goldfish breeding. Also, you need to feed the goldfish nutritious dry food like chopped worms, duckweed, or brine shrimp.

How Do Goldfish Reproduce?

Goldfish mate and reproduce when a male goldfish chases a female one. When a female goldfish breeds its eggs, the male one will release its “milt” onto the eggs and fertilize them. 

When releasing their eggs, the female goldfish will release a substance called pheromones to attract the male goldfish. Without this “milt” from the male goldfish, the eggs cannot fertilize and hatch. 

How To Remove Goldfish Eggs From The Tank?

It’s possible to subtract and remove the goldfish eggs using your hands since they are sticky. However, you’ll first need to locate the positions of the eggs, which are very hard to find due to their tiny sizes. 

Another solution is to remove the goldfish from the tank for a while to leave a comfortable space for egg removal. In this way, you won’t scare the fish and can find the egg’s position more easily. 

How Long After Hatching Goldfish Eggs Will Hatch?

Healthy and fertilized eggs take between 2 to 10 days to hatch, depending on the tank and water conditions. Therefore, you should not be surprised when the eggs don’t hatch simultaneously. 

After the eggs have hatched, dispatch the unfertilized or floating ones and start with a new batch. 

FAQs

What Do Goldfish Eggs Look Like Unfertilized?

Unfertilized goldfish eggs usually have semi-clear to bright white colors, which depends on whether they have been fertilized. You can identify unfertilized eggs if they look like tiny bubbles with a bright white color. 

How Do You Know About Goldfish Eggs?

Goldfish eggs typically come in white, orange, or yellow color. They are very small and look like tiny little bubbles, plus a sticky surface that you cannot hold on your hands. 

Can I Remove The Goldfish Eggs From The Tank?

Yes, you should separate the fertilized and healthy goldfish eggs from the matured fish because goldfish can eat their eggs. Look for the healthy eggs on the tank bottom and quickly put them into another tank. 

Final Thoughts

In summary, healthy goldfish eggs don’t float but stick to the water tank surface and bottom. If you see bright white unfertilized eggs floating, it’s best to remove these eggs because they won’t fry. 

Also, check the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your tank if it has a lot of plants. If the eggs still float, you should remove them completely and keep the healthy ones on the tank’s bottom. 

I hope that the answer and information provided can help you care for the goldfish eggs better. Thank you for reading!