Do you want to know how to find out if your goldfish is male or female? Then, read this article to learn to find the gender of goldfish
During the spawning season, it will be easier to identify whether a goldfish is male or female. The male goldfish starts to develop spots on pectoral fins and gills, whereas the female goldfish will have its vent swollen below its tails. They will even act differently as the male goldfish starts chasing the female goldfish more often. These behavioral changes help in identifying the gender of the goldfish.
How can you identify the gender of goldfish?
Here are some of the characteristics of a male and female goldfish
Male goldfish: You can identify the goldfish as male if they have spots on their pectoral fins, if they have spots on their gills, if they release milt to fertilize eggs, and if they chase the female goldfish.
Female goldfish: The female goldfish are chased by males, and they have a vent that lumps out and lays eggs.
The features mentioned above help in identifying goldfish as either male or female.
How to identify the gender with the vent?
The vent serves the purpose of releasing the waste and the way they breed. The female goldfish will eject eggs through their vent, and the male goldfish will release the milt that helps fertilize the female goldfish’s eggs. The vent of the male goldfish is not likely noticeable as it is flat and has a small slit concealed under its tail. The vent of the female goldfish gets puffed up and swollen when it’s time for breeding.
How do you identify the breeding tubercles of the male goldfish?
The male goldfish has tiny white bumps which appear on their gill covers, and it is called breeding tubercles. The breeding stars or the spots will also appear on the pectoral fin, gills, and around the eyes of the fish. You may wonder what these breeding tubercles are for. As per scientific research, these breeding tubercles are a sign that the male goldfish is in a healthy condition for breeding. If there are plenty of breeding tubercles in the male goldfish, it means that they are healthier and can reproduce more successfully. It is also a good sign for the female goldfish that they can choose such male goldfish with tubercles for mating.
The difference between the ich parasites and breeding stars
The white-colored spots and the breeding tubercles can be mistaken for white spot disease, also known as Ich. Before treating any disease, one has to check if it is spawning season, as giving the wrong treatment to the goldfish can lead to disrupting their health and the timing of their reproduction. These breeding stars look like tiny dots which are very neatly designed. They are also present on the pectoral fins and at the gills and can also be found elsewhere on the goldfish’s body. On the other hand, Ich also appears to have white spots, but they differ in size and have no organized pattern. They can be seen all over the fish and appear more randomly.
The chasing behavior during the spawning season
During the spawning season, the male goldfish begins chasing after the female goldfish, pushing them into the sides of the aquarium or the tank. Seeing the goldfish chasing one after the other will give you an idea of the gender. The one chasing is the male goldfish, and the one being chased is the female goldfish.
Few things you should be aware of:
If there are goldfish of different ages in the same tank, the pheromones are released when they are breeding, and the young goldfish may start to behave inappropriately. It can be mistaken as a female because they are being chased, but it’s a male, and you might realize it later in the following year when it gets breeding tubercles. You should also look at other signs apart from the chasing behavior, like the releasing of the eggs or the breeding tubercles, to identify the gender of the goldfish.
How to Identify gender with eggs and milt?
The simple way to identify the gender of the goldfish is by spotting them when they release the milt or eggs. Suppose you watch a goldfish releasing eggs. You can be sure it is a female, and when the goldfish releases milt, it is surely a male. It can be identified by the white lines that appear to be like the wisps of smoke, which is the milt at the vent of the male goldfish.
When can the goldfish gender be identified?
Once the fish reaches sexual maturity and is healthy, it is easy to differentiate and say the gender of the goldfish. Generally, it should be more than one year old to reach sexual maturity, but at times the fish might reach maturity either early or late. If you are considering breeding the goldfish, buying around six fish from the same tank is advisable, as there will be a greater chance of acquiring both male and female goldfish. It would be best to have a bigger tank or a pond to accommodate them safely.
We have already discussed the features of a male and female goldfish. Let us see more physical characteristics of the male and female goldfish.
Primary signs to identify the gender:
- The males will have spots on their electoral fins and spots on their gills when it is time for them to reproduce
- The female goldfish will have a vent that sticks out
- The male goldfish are chasing, and the female goldfish are being chased
- The male goldfish will release the milt, and the female goldfish will lay eggs
Secondary signs to identify the gender:
- The male goldfish will have their pectoral fins thicker and longer in size
- The pectoral fins in male goldfish are more pointed when compared to the female goldfish
- The male goldfish has their anal fins much closer to their tails when compared to the female goldfish
- The male goldfish will have additional flowing fins and tails when compared with the female goldfish
- The body of the male goldfish is a little smaller, and it has a more skinner body when compared with the female goldfish
- The body of the female goldfish is large and round, and they also have a softer abdomen
- The female goldfish appears to be asymmetrical when they reproduce and while you observe them from above because of the eggs that are being developed inside their body
- When compared to the male goldfish, the female goldfish has a deeper body, and this is visible when you look at them from sidewards
- The male goldfish has a ridge that passes through the rear of the pelvic fins. Moreover, it also has a vent opening that is either small or nonexistent in female goldfish.
The secondary rules discussed here may not be accurate or true with all the goldfish; hence, it is better to look into the primary signs for identifying the gender of the goldfish. This article has helped you to identify your goldfish gender by looking at their signs, like the chasing behavior during the spawning season, the releasing of milt or eggs, etc.
You might also be interested to read these articles:
- How To Look After a Fantail Goldfish (Full Guide)
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- How Big Do Goldfish Get?
- Do Goldfish Lay Eggs? What Do Goldfish Eggs Look Like?
Do check out this video for easier understanding