ASK A FISH FARMER | Fish Spawning

It's that time of year again! Spring brings flowers and baby animals but here on the fish farm it's also spawning time. It's our busiest time of the year. For fish farmers in the spring, we are both planting and harvesting our crop at the same time. We are at our peak time in producing fish but also selling and shipping! Needless to say it's a busy time. So what is spawning? Let's learn about spawning, what it is and the process.  

SPAWNING | What is spawning?
 

Spawning is the process of goldfish and koi reproduction. Goldfish and koi are part of the carp family. Koi are literally just colored carp. While some types of fish have live young, all carp reproduce through spawning which is how fish reproduce. Most people are familiar with breeding in animals like cattle. With breeding the egg is fertilized in the females body and she becomes pregnant. The mother's body protects the offspring. But with spawning the mature females release eggs into the water and the males release sperm. The eggs are fertilized externally in the water. Fish that spawn typically have a lot of offspring because they are laid in the water and unprotected. Goldfish can have upwards of 20,000 eggs and koi can have over 200,000 eggs. That is a lot of eggs, but you do have to remember that both fertilization and survival rates can vary greatly. They have a lot of offspring in hopes that some survive. 

SPAWNING | When does it happen? 

Spawning takes place in the spring and summer when the weather warms up, typically May and June. Warmer weather is what triggers spawning to take place. The weather needs to be around 72°F for the fish to be interested in spawning. The males start chasing the females and this encourages the females to release their eggs. 

SPAWNING | Parent Fish aka Brood Fish

Mature goldfish are 2-3 years old and 8-14" in size. A mature female goldfish can produce upwards of 20,000 eggs. Mature koi are 3-4 years old and 25-35" in size. A mature female koi can produce 200,000 eggs each year. Females release thousands of eggs at a time and they are tiny and sticky. They stick to the pond substrate like rocks, plants or algae. The males release sperm and the eggs are fertilized in the water via external fertilization. 

SPAWNING | Hatching

Goldfish and koi eggs take 3-4 days to hatch. Baby fish are called fry and are about the size of an eyelash. Goldfish are born brown in color and koi are born a muted yellow color. It takes the 60-90 days for them to change into their true color. 

What other spawning questions do you have? 

 SPAWNING FUN FACTS: 

1. Goldfish and koi don't parent their babies - in fact they often will eat their own eggs. 
2. Spawning can get splashy - Males chase the females and can create a splash zone when zooming around the pond. 
3. Spawning is when the egg is fertilized externally or outside the female. 
4. It only takes goldfish and koi eggs 3 days to hatch and they are the size of an eyelash. 
5. Goldfish are brown in color and koi are more yellow in color when born. 
6. It takes 60-90 days for goldfish and koi to develop their true color.