How do Fish Mate

All living organisms on Earth have to reproduce in order to preserve life on the planet. So, why should our aquarium fish be any different? Although, unlike others, fish tend to breed in different ways. How do fish mate? Basically, fish use 2 main strategies for reproduction. One is by laying eggs and two, by producing living young (live-bearing). In the first method, female fish lays her eggs either at the bottom of the aquarium or (if there are plants) over the leaves of a plant inside the fish tank. The male fish will come and fertilize those eggs. Both male and female fish work together to protect the eggs/babies from all dangers till they are capable of defending themselves.

For the second method, the aquarium fish mate through live birth. Only some species of fish will reproduce in this manner. The male fish uses its anal fin in order to transmit the sperm into the female fish. This way female fish's eggs will get fertilized and later on, give live birth to her fry (a fish that's young). Now that you have slight understanding about how fish copulate, let's take a look at how goldfish and betta fish (Siamese fighting fish) mate.

How do Betta Fish Mate

Typically, male betta fish tend to mature sexually 3.5 months after their birth. Some male bettas start to develop bubble nests in the aquarium, which is a clear sign that indicates they are ready to mate. The female bettas use these bubble nests to store her eggs. To prepare herself for the mating process, females will start to acquire vertical bar markings on the sides of their bodies. Once both betta fish are sexually mature and ready to mate, then only place them together. Since they are aggressive towards each other, placing them in the same tank before mating is not recommended. When the male spots the female for the first time, he becomes aggressive towards her (this is an act of showing his dominance). It's a normal occurrence, but make sure that neither of the fish are injured in any way.

When the female betta is ready to spawn, she will spend some time near the bubble nest. During this time, the male betta will circle around her, trying to twist and wrap his body around hers. The male betta might take a while to decide the best approach towards the female betta to spawn; again a normal occurrence. Finally, the male betta will find a way to wrap his body around hers.

After finding their proper positions to spawn, they will lock in an embrace with one another that may last for few seconds. Towards the end of breeding, they might just sink towards the bottom of the tank (while embracing). After releasing the female betta, the male betta will start collecting her eggs. He will fertilize the eggs and place them inside the bubble nest, which is usually at the top of the tank. Also, the male betta has to protect the eggs in the bubble nest till they hatch, as the female betta might want to eat them (if given the chance).

How do Goldfish Mate

Before we understand how do goldfish copulate, we need to concentrate on their sexual maturity. Typically, goldfish tend to mature sexually 9 months after their birth. If you have male and female goldfish in your tank, you would be able to see the males trying to chase the females and bump into them. Also, males develop white bumps (breeding tubercles) on their fins, which is a clear sign that indicates they are ready to mate. And females will start becoming bigger, only around her anal fin area, which is a clear sign that indicates there are eggs present.

During goldfish breeding (the mating process), the temperature of water is crucial. The recommended water temperature should be around 65F. The female goldfish will spawn the eggs as the male goldfish will be close behind her for fertilizing them. After their roles are finished, it is important to remove both parents out of the tank and place in another one. This way the eggs will get a shot to hatch without being eaten by them. You can add baby brine shrimp in the tank during this process.

Now let's go over some important aftercare instructions. In couple of weeks, you'll find new additions to the tank. The fertilized eggs are easy to spot, just look for tiny black dots inside the eggs. Avoid changing the water at this time and the formation of algae is completely alright (since algae is their natural food). Following proper care is important to keep the fry healthy. After 3 months, you will see the change in color. This is when you can feed the new goldfish and change the water on a regular basis.

If you have a fish tank or aquarium, make sure to see the signs of your fish's sexual maturity, in order to give them space and essential settings for reproducing.