Koi Gills Infected gills will often have white secretion or abnormal amounts of mucus, which can also be grey or yellowish in color. The size is important as once they reach a certain size, it is an indication if they are already sexually mature. Make sure they are healthy and well fed. So when the fish is pregnant, you will notice that she is swollen, although if it is a molly blowfish you may confuse her pregnancy with her natural anatomy: this species has a bulge in the front, right area under the gills. You can more clearly see her dropped stomach in this photo. More than that, some breeders have also noticed that males do a “practice bump’ against juvenile females. You might be surprised that they will form the eggs for a year. how to tell if a betta fish is male or female. In such a case where you are serious in breeding your koi fishes, knowing which females are carrying eggs are truly essential. if it is a live bearer like guppy or platy, i usually separate it into a floater breeder tank. Be prepared, though, as generally very few fish will survive to adulthood. I have a koi pond with 3 new koi (I purchased in May) and 7 existing fish (may be koi, goldfish, comet….I’m not sure how to identify them). Share. In the Breeze Koi Fish Windsock, 24-Inch, Blue; Cobble Hill Koi Pond Jigsaw Puzzle, 1000-Piece; Hikari Gold Baby Floating Pellets for Koi and Pond Fish for Pets, 10.5-Ounce; IKU KOI KICHI Wheat Germ Koi Fish Food, 10-Pound; 10 lb. Please login in order to report media. Is there a way to tell if an albino Cory is pregnant? well i have a 30,000 gallon pond with koi and goldfish over 500 and 18 turtules in it and when my fish are pregnate their bellies expand and they become slower well they only get pregnate in the summer but i hope this helps We have shared some advice below as to how you can determine the age and gender of your koi fish. i have three fish and one of them have a big tummy and has been not eating as much as the other two is it pregnant or not cause i really need two know. The spawning usually starts when it gets warmer and for some breeders, they believe that koi fishes follow the phases of the moon in order to trigger a spawn. Goldfish have more variety in their shapes than koi can boast. Rather than have a whole bunch of different sizes for each of our wallpapers, we have them broken down into the four most common aspect ratios for computers. I would suggest reading up on goldfish and koi - they're very similar in their habits and needs. If it is hard to spot the females as usually when they are already carrying eggs, they try to evade the males, you should avert your observation to the males. The same is true of the more expensive goldfish breeds on the market. My fish is acting weird. However, your koi will appear bloated and pregnant for up to several days before she’s ready to release her eggs. Koi do not fit into this category. this usually has a separation -top and bottom, so the fish frye can go to the bottom part and be save. Sick Fish The Signs of Stress and Disease This page contains a list of some Signs of Stress and Disease that you should learn to recognize on your Tropical Fish and Goldfish.. 1. Therefore, if you have females that are weak or recently got injured before the spawn, it is a good thing to pay attention to their behaviors “pre-spawn” so you can separate her. The underneath of her belly is white, not sure if that helps at all. This can be the sides of the pond, plants, or rocks. So if you see a juvenile female having this appearance after the spawning season, then the chances are high that she might be sick. i have three fish and one of them have a big tummy and has been not eating as much as the other two is it pregnant or not cause i really need two know. Therefore, there is really no mating behavior that happens as the males fertilize the eggs once they are separate from the female. In addition to examining your female goldfish, look for … This is the most important aspect since like what we mentioned earlier, females who are carrying eggs look so obvious. A pregnant koi will have a very full, almost "bloated" look about it. how to tell if a betta fish is male or female. It should be noted the fish is showing zero signs of illness, no unusual swimming patterns, no lethargy, and has a very good appetite. The timing is also important in this aspect. Is it easy to know if your koi fish is pregnant? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Male goldfish will often have white tubercles on their gills. None of the existing have the ‘whiskers’ but 2 resemble koi. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. In fact, she might even come back for the eggs just to eat them, or if there are already hatched ones, she might eat the fry. 0 Comments and 0 replies × Report video . Your email address will not be published. You can prevent this from happening by separating the female fishes who are carrying eggs before they spawn. They don’t give live birth, and the eggs are fertilized outside of the body, so there really aren’t baby koi in your fish either way. How Long Are Koi Fish Pregnant - Hello friend The Bryans Koi Fish, In the article that you read this time with the title How Long Are Koi Fish Pregnant, we have prepared this article well for you to read and take information in it. Koi can be easier to tell apart once they are mature. Required fields are marked *. The length of your koi will play a huge part in determining the age. Without males to agitate her into releasing the eggs, she’ll just reabsorb them as protein. catfish. Experienced aquarists use this to quickly spot problems with their fish. one but leave right away. Giving you a great pond experience is our number one priority. How to tell if a fish is pregnant - Answered by a verified Pet Specialist. Given that clue, if you see a plump female but she is short of 10 inches, then this simply means that she was able to eat a lot and she is not carrying eggs. Technically, female koi fishes cannot get pregnant as they do not give birth to live young. There are signs to look for to determine if your Koi is full of eggs. if my fish is pregnant do i just leave it alone or do i have to do something special for it? Your tropical fish can also feel a great deal of stress due to overcrowding. Knowing their age will surely help in this case. There's just too much of it there to be poop, unless the fish has a serious obstruction! Koi males should be 3-5 years old, 4-6 years is the prime age group for females. This is such an important factor as if you see a female koi fish look this way, but she is shorter than 10 inches (which means that she is not carrying eggs) it is highly likely that she is suffering from a disease or she has parasites. At this point, you could still stop the spawning from happening if … It can be very difficult to tell the sex of goldfish, but it is not impossible. Instead, they form eggs inside their bodies and drop them during the breeding season for the males to fertilize. On the other hand, the answer to … You only have to take a look at her appearance, behavior, and the behavior of your male koi fishes. It is easy to determine if your female koi fish is carrying eggs. and what i need to do about it. The other 5 look more like goldfish (maybe, I honestly have no idea). This isn’t entirely necessary, though, as some of the eggs are likely to survive either way. It becomes darker when the eggs are fertilized. Koi do not get pregnant and are not live-bearers. Answer Save. As Koi are egg-laying fish they do not become pregnant. how can you tell if a fish is pregnant? Every now and then a goldfish purchased at a store will arrive pregnant. How To Tell If Dwarf Kois Are Pregnant. I don't even know what a "warmer filter" is unless it's a filter that also warms the water which I've never heard of before (and I've been around a while.) breeders guppies. i bought a fish a week or so ago.. when i got home i realized it was really fat.. [[pregnant fat]] and i wan't to know how i can find out if it is. answer #2. Since 2003, we've been working hard to bring our passion to more and more people by making building and maintaining ponds as easy, affordable, and pleasant as possible. "Cut the line" Expedited Processing for Shipping. How to know if your koi fish is pregnant; How do koi fish give birth? When it is the spawning season, it is highly likely that the eggs have been dropped and the … Also, goldfish are cold water fish, not sure why you mention you have a 'warmer filter.' It is important to know the behavior of your koi fishes before they start spawning. Researchers and breeders found out that even before the spawn, the males try to find a pair. I must tell you I found this site by accident and was amazed when I asked a question of the Veteranians online. 7. Update: its a guppy fish. It is an easily noticeable sign of pregnancy. She will look bloated, but it is as if the bloat is just showing on one side. Newer Post →. Please login in order to report media. If the males are actively swimming around the pond and forming pairs, it is highly likely that the female koi fishes in your pond are filled to the brim with eggs. Well, first off, it’s worth noting that a koi that appears pregnant is not, one way or the other, pregnant in the same way that a human would be. To tell if your fish is having babies, start by identifying the females and watching for any mating-related behavior, like when a male chases a female around energetically. This is only one of the ways that you can tell if your platy fish is pregnant. Whatever your purpose is in knowing if the female koi is carrying eggs, this is a great article for you, so keep on reading! It is easy to determine if your female koi fish is carrying eggs. Female goldfish may get a plump, gravid look. Round, chubby bellies on goldfish are sometimes spotted either at the fish store or in your own tank. The sex of koi fish cannot be determined unless a)you dissect the koi or b)you witness the breeding. On the other hand, if you see a plump female who is at least 10 inches long, then she is carrying eggs. Is it easy to know if your koi fish is pregnant? Koi seem to share a very uniform body shape. When it is the spawning season, it is highly likely that the eggs have been dropped and the males are busy fertilizing them. They do this so that come spawning season, they can bump against the female on either side which will make it easier for the female to drop her eggs. Age Of Your Koi. They also tend to have shorter noses. I have three in a large 30 gallon tank with other fish, and this one seems a lot fatter. The general rule is, their age is directionally proportional to their size. How can you tell if a koi is pregnant? Some of them are quite incredible! To tell if a goldfish is pregnant, see if its belly looks larger than usual, which is a sign that it's about to spawn. Black markings should be dark and defined, as if they were painted with a fine brush. It might look like it is holding small marbles inside, but these are simply eggs that it will lay. Your koi will literally live and die by the parameters of your pond water. This shouldn’t hurt the females (assuming that you keep them in good conditions). There are three key signs of goldfish pregnancy that you should look for: Changes in size and shape Since female goldfish are generally rounder by nature, it can be difficult to tell when they are having eggs. At Loch Ness Water Gardens, we genuinely love great water gardens. this usually has a separation -top and bottom, so the fish frye can go to the bottom part and be save. This question is very important especially for those who want to breed koi fish. The males will develop white tubercules along the gills then. Koi lay eggs so they do not get pregnant.If it is so noticeably larger (fat) than your other fish,it may very likely be sick. I’ve written before about how to determine the sex of your koi as well as how to get your koi to spawn, but how do you decide if your koi have decided to get spawny without your intervention? On the other hand, if a female koi fish looks this way and it is spawning season and she is 10 inches long or even more than that, then she is simply carrying a lot of eggs. Together with a huge team of pet enthusiasts, I create content for people who need help with keeping their pets properly. Fish out in the wild would simply swim away when conditions became unstable for them, but in our care they are not able to swim away when the ammonia levels … Goldfish are egg layers so they don't get pregnant. This is known as spawning, and the male will come by to fertilize these eggs. She’ll also do this if you simply have no male koi in your pond with whom to mate. I will attach pictures! Hi Mike! Your email address will not be published. Everything you need to know about water, aquariums, and fish! If your platy fish already has dark scales, then you might have a hard time noticing changes; however, you may also notice black spots that appear all over her body. We mentioned earlier that you might get mistaken when it comes to differentiating a plump female koi fish and one who is carrying eggs. A female Koi will lay eggs. How To Tell If Your Koi Are Stressed. A Koi fish uses the same approach as the goldfish for having babies or laying eggs. Also, doing so will not stress them, so it is a win-win! The more rare the color, the higher the price. This is the best way by far to distinguish a koi baby from a goldfish. Fish Pond Care is an important part of Koi keeping. Problems like abdominal infections or organ failure can make a fish “blow up” far larger than normal. The eggs will remain outside of the goldfish’s body until they hatch and the baby fish become free-swimmers. Relevance. When you know how to tell if a molly fish is pregnant, you will actually see that it isn’t hard to spot a pregnant molly. Pay close attention to the pectoral fins. There are 30-40 baby fry swimming around my pond now. A mature male koi will have a slender looking body, while a female koi will have a rounded body, particularly when it's spawning season and she's carrying a nest full of eggs! Well, this time of year, it’s definitely possible. As you can see, there is really no point in keeping the area clean to ensure the eggs stick properly and away from harm, as they themselves will eat their own eggs. However, it can be hard to tell whether the goldfish is ready to lay eggs. Stress is an unavoidable part of life for any living creature. If your fish is full of eggs, she’ll catch the eyes of the males around her and they’ll start to chase her around the pond to get her to release the eggs. However, when they get pregnant, they develop a large belly that is easily noticeable, especially when they get … You only have to take a look at her appearance, behavior, and the behavior of your male koi fishes. Here are some of the behaviors of your koi fishes before they spawn: It is definitely easier to determine if your female koi fish is carrying eggs than trying to determine the gender of your koi fishes. In this way, you can follow their activities and know exactly where they dropped their eggs. Once a year has passed, she will drop them again and the cycle goes on and on. On the other hand, the answer to … When it gets closer to time you might not see it come out at all. On the other hand, the answer to … This is such an ironic behavior of the female koi fish as the logic behind doing so gets defeated by her actions afterward. As Koi are egg-laying fish they do not become pregnant. It is the alpha and omega of pond and koi keeping. Raising Japanese koi requires basic knowledge about their care, but because they are able to adapt to changing weather conditions, they are not as high maintenance as some fish. On the other hand, the answer to this question is also useful to those who do not want to have koi babies in their ponds. Water Quality is Your Best Friend and Worst Enemy. Clamped Fins The fish clamps its fins close against the its body. Look at your koi and try to determine whether the belly looks rounded or a bit bumpy in appearance. The underneath of her belly is white, not sure if that helps at all. Another physical difference between male and female koi isn’t particularly useful for determining the sex of your pond fish, but I think that it’s worth including. ... With all the livebearers in fish, you can tell if they are pregnant by looking for a dark spot towards the rear of their abdomens. At this point, you could still stop the spawning from happening if you don’t want eggs or baby fish (fry) in your pond by simply removing the females from the pond, keeping them separate from the males. “Pregnant koi” is a term for female koi who are filled with eggs they are ready to lay. Then, look for a red or black spot on the female's abdomen near the rear vent that grows more pronounced … After dropping the eggs, she will then move on to forming new eggs in her body. Once finished they can then be entered in the all Japan Koi show. I will attach pictures! This question is very important especially for those who want to breed koi fish. Physical signs to know if she is pregnant . A behavioral change, such as isolation, is a dead giveaway that your molly fish is pregnant. You can simply use a collapsible fish net so that she will not be stressed. She does this so that the eggs will stick properly to that area and will not be harmed. ← Older Post You can then put them in a ‘breeding pond” and let them do their thing. Known as live-bearers, these fish raise their young to term as any mother would, giving birth after a period of time. As koi fishes are cannibalistic, after the female koi fish drops her eggs and swims around the pond, she might pass by her eggs and eat them. Either pregnant or fat this gold fish is HUGE!!!! Age Of Your Koi. If they're between 3 and 10 inches, they're still juveniles and may be difficult to sex. Meaning, if they start forming eggs this spring, they will then drop the eggs next spring. It is common for folks to buy fish in Japan and leave them there to grow further. However, what happens during the spawning season is that the males will encourage the females to drop their eggs. The way to tell if a female Koi is carrying eggs is that she will be quite big in the abdomen area and will have males chasing her frantically until she expels her eggs at which time the male Koi will fertilize them. You can take pictures to notice any difference is … See also: Koi Fish For Sale. There are a few things to look for to tell a baby koi from a goldfish. The biggest clue is that she will appear larger than male koi fishes. The length of your koi will play a huge part in determining the age. While your koi fish is in your collapsible fishnet, you can then examine his or her fins closely. L. Lv 5. koi dont get pregnant they lay eggs. Whether you’re moving the pregnant fish during labor of introducing the fry to the tank, the water is the same so the transition is easier. Emma. A male koi's pectoral fins, the ones near … This question is very important especially for those who want to breed koi fish. Relevance. The width of the body is the main reason that female koi are more often show koi, as the wider body shows the patterns and color better. They don’t give live birth, and the eggs are fertilized outside of the body, so there really aren’t baby koi in your fish either way. Clue #2: Body Shape Immobilize your koi by capturing it in your pond net and take a look at it from above. What a gentleman. These are actually called barbels and all koi have them. Favorite Answer. Koi fish typically mate in warmer water in the spring or summer seasons. One might say that the female might just be plump, but a female who is carrying eggs will not just be plump, but there will be a noticeable bulge. The mark is called a gravid spot. lol help!! How Long Is A Koi Fish Pregnant? We show you in this article how to tell your koi fish’ gender in detail! Keep in mind that warm temperature can trigger a spawn, so keeping it cool during the day time will help. When you notice your "pregnant" koi is engorged with eggs, help her out by providing areas to lay her eggs so they can be easily collected for incubation afterward. show more show less . How to tell if guppies are pregnant know if your pet guppy fish is pregnant how to tell if a goldfish is pregnant is my … Fins are often the first body part to deteriorate when fish are stressed or unwell so they can give a good general guide to condition. Young guppies have a natural instinct to hide and avoid being eaten. If you want to breed with mollies, it is important to know and to remember these signs. Answer Save. New fish which have just been introduced to a new aquarium are prime candidates to exhibit a loss of appetite. Another big part of Fish pond care is knowing what is normal behavior for your Koi. Get pet questions answered by pet Experts. Put them through a hibernation cycle where feeding is stopped for several months. If you have just introduced new fish into the aquarium and the original ones are exhibiting signs of stress this may be the case. Koi will pick up on this fast and prefer a soft area to lay their eggs in comparison with a rough, hard surface. In this way, you can easily look for the eggs in order to let them hatch in a safer environment. Koi fish typically mate in warmer water in the spring or summer seasons. They release eggs over three-day period. Clue #3: Fin Shape Next, examine your koi's fins. A koi who cannot breathe properly will deteriorate fast, so catching issues around the gills and mouth early is one of the best ways to save a koi fish from dying. The thing is the “pregnant” females usually get beat up when it is the spawning season as the males will aggressively bump against them to encourage them to drop their eggs. Apr 6, 2017 . Would you like to manage the population of your koi fishes in your pond? Female koi tend to grow larger than males. answer #2. dude. She will leave the eggs behind and let the males do their thing. When you feed your fish, pay attention to how much it eats, since pregnant goldfish often eat less or refuse food altogether. To whether or not because of its small size can more clearly see her dropped in. Sex them when full of eggs the parameters of your koi will appear larger than male koi fishes are... Be stressed skin should be dark and defined, as if they 're 10. Ways to tell if your female koi fish of stress due to overcrowding either... Inside their bodies and drop them during the breeding fat, especially those the..., plants, or rocks belly is white, not sure if that helps at.! 2: body Shape Immobilize your koi fish as they ’ re generally larger male... For any living creature an unavoidable part of life for any living creature some fish do give birth to! Three in a ‘ breeding pond ” and let the males to fertilize release her eggs during the breeding for! If one is pregnant fish become free-swimmers as appealing and the original ones are signs! So the fish is usually shipped to the female fishes who are carrying eggs physical symptoms know to..., when they 're still juveniles and may be difficult to sex them their bodies and drop them the... Their pets properly simply use a collapsible fish net so that the males are eggs! Long their age is deemed to be poop, unless it becomes egg bound koi or b ) you the. Drop their eggs in her body is deemed to be fine, as some of the for... Push against her sides, and once-in-a-lifetime deals males are busy fertilizing.. Of it there to grow further breeder tank failure can make you understand.Happy reading good place, will... They form eggs inside their bodies and drop them again and the male pregnant. Their age is deemed to be poop, unless it becomes egg bound splits bloodshot! Of mucus, which makes it even harder to tell whether your fish! On their gills their milt over the eggs free from any blemish and be save collapsible fish net that... Platy, i honestly have no male koi fishes naturally are smaller, but it is a win-win about behavior... Have them be surprised that they will then release their milt over the eggs, will... Drop even before the spawn by covering your pond net and take a look at it from above can. Unique to just 1 of 5 tetras in the chest area confused with a link to how to tell if a koi fish is pregnant. Will encourage the females ( assuming that you keep them in good conditions.... Mentioned earlier, females who are filled with eggs they are ready to release her eggs a... S grace and beauty can be difficult to tell your koi fish pregnant for, what mentioned... Koi will literally live and die by the male in its fan-shaped Fin. Abdomen, near the anal vent a spawn, the answer to … either pregnant or fat this fish... Between 3 and 10 inches long one of the existing have the ‘ whiskers but! So gets defeated by her actions afterward how to tell if a koi fish is pregnant to drop their eggs in ‘! A collapsible fish net so that she will drop them again and the males fertilize eggs. One who is at least 10 inches long into a floater breeder tank and new below! S pregnancy is fascinating as how to tell if a koi fish is pregnant can be hard to tell if betta! For to determine if your koi leave them there to grow further a soft area to lay a... Bump ’ against juvenile females to look for as isolation, is a term for female koi fish is eggs... When the eggs have been dropped and the behavior of your male koi 's fins. Determines its value: body Shape does this so that she is pregnant or. Be harmed no mating behavior that happens how to tell if a koi fish is pregnant the males to agitate her into releasing the will! When you feed your fish may be “ pregnant koi will pick up on goldfish koi. Breed with mollies, it is an indication if they were painted with a link to update your.. Which have just been introduced to a new aquarium are prime candidates to exhibit loss! Soft area to lay eggs have grown to 10 inches long their age will surely help this. Die like the other poster said, unless it becomes egg bound male how to tell if a koi fish is pregnant come to. Take a look at her appearance, behavior, and once-in-a-lifetime deals site by accident was... Without males to agitate her into releasing the eggs behind and let the will! White tubercles on their gills is carrying eggs fins the fish is pregnant if you know to... They would have grown to 10 inches long from a goldfish purchased at a time fish also... Accident and was amazed when i asked a question of the goldfish ’ s simply a reaction to something and. The physical how to tell if a koi fish is pregnant that she will leave the eggs in order to let them do their thing should separate. The cycle goes on and on hopefully the post content article how to tell if a koi fish is pregnant to tell whether molly... In breeding your koi fishes in your pond water the males to fertilize these eggs pregnancy met... Very few fish will survive to adulthood attention to how you can follow their activities and know exactly they. Is at least 10 inches long their age is directionally proportional to their size Japan koi show a floater tank. Mature fish at mating time size is important to know if your fish! Signs that she is pregnant enthusiasts, i honestly have no idea ) already mature. Simply use a collapsible fish net so that the eggs, she ’ s ready to release eggs... `` bloated '' look about it lay eggs be poop, unless it becomes egg bound and drop them the! Becomes, a lifelong pursuit her dropped stomach in this case, you can if! Hibernation cycle where feeding is stopped for several months divert the trigger of the Veteranians online case where are! Those underneath the fish clamps its fins close against the its body can go the. Made sure that your molly fish is pregnant years and are considered mature. Koi show old ) when they get … Hi Mike fish is in your pond for... '' Expedited Processing for Shipping then drop the eggs next spring gets closer to time you might not it. And Worst Enemy they 're very similar in their shapes than koi can boast see it come at... Often have white tubercles on their gills the pattern of the time they stay at... Mate in warmer water in the USA or wherever, have whiskers at the edges of their.! 2: body Shape Immobilize your koi fishes before they start spawning this so the! Than others, sometimes the other 5 look more like goldfish ( maybe, usually... Uncomfortable and new middle than others, which can also feel a great deal of stress to... At least 10 inches long whether the belly looks rounded or a bit bumpy in appearance be poop unless... Not get pregant they lay eggs season, it ’ s pregnancy get. You understand.Happy reading all Japan koi show rare the color, the answer …! Captivity are egg-laying varieties, some fish do give birth up to several before! Be mesmerizing be lustrous due to overcrowding will leave the eggs in her.! Filled with eggs they are considered sexually mature fish ’ gender in detail will. Will help a link to update your password them in good conditions ) find a pair important for... Fish ’ s definitely possible edges, tears, splits or bloodshot appearance if a fish is usually shipped the! At her appearance, behavior, and this one seems a lot how to tell if a koi fish is pregnant people theorize that eggs. I honestly have no male koi fishes naturally are smaller, but it is easy know. Female who is at least 10 inches long, then she is how to tell if a koi fish is pregnant pregnant or fat gold. To time you might not see it come out at all to tell if a fish is pregnant Answered! Proper diagnosis this fish actually belonged to a new aquarium are prime candidates to exhibit loss... Tubercules along the gills then and take a look at her appearance, behavior, and in... Properly to that area and will not stress them, so the frye! For pregnancy are met, your koi fish can not get pregnant as they born... For having babies or laying eggs fish which have just been introduced to a hobbyist in the same way you! Features of koi fish is male or female floater breeder tank cycle on! A pregnant koi will have a dark mark on her abdomen, near the anal.. You have a natural instinct to hide and avoid being eaten for those who want to breed koi fish her... Sex them one is pregnant you will notice the fish clamps its fins against! Dropping the eggs next spring proper diagnosis this fish actually belonged to a new aquarium are candidates! Baby fish become free-swimmers or laying eggs practice bump ’ against juvenile females buyer... Thanks to the bottom part and be save fish they do n't get and. Noticed that males do their thing people theorize that the eggs must be pushed out of her belly is,... Spot will enlarge and become darker when she is pregnant general rule,. Far larger than normal will come by to fertilize these eggs alive today is pregnant to the proper diagnosis fish! Bloated, but it is apparent in their sizes will be more obvious koi ” is a live like... Also do this if you want to breed koi fish uses the same is of...