Breeding Goldfish

Goldfish usually begin breeding in their second season if they have reached a reasonable size and are in good condition.  Spawning begins when there is a hot day after a cold night, usually in spring, but often in summer too.  It can also happen after a warm autumn day.  The male fish follow the female who lays eggs into weed or a home made spawning mat.  The male sprays the eggs and this is repeated all day.  The best time to see them is fairly early in the morning but they often spawn all day and get quite exhausted.  They appear to wallow around near the surface and this is when cats and birds can kill them.  Protection from predators is important at this time.  The pool may need covering with a net. 

This is when good-sized mats of oxygen weed are needed for them to spawn on and several per larger pond.  Two large plants per square metre are average.  See ‘Oxygen Plants’ article.  Goldfish may eat previously laid eggs as they spawn.  Caviar!!!  To combat this remove the egg covered, potted plant or matting, out to a fish free pond where the eggs will hatch into fingerlings in two or three weeks.  They are very tiny.  Fingerlings must be separated away from the larger adults who are keen to eat them too.   

If there are not enough oxygen weeds in the pond the solution is a home made spawning mat made of pressed quilting batting tied to a plastic bottle.  It works well as does carded sheep’s wool or any material that floats, is soft and is not toxic. 

Easily trained to come to food, goldfish come to a regular place to feed and even come to a sound.  At the nursery a banging lid makes the goldfish circle like sharks when they are hungry.  We are often asked what sort of food is the best for goldfish and how often should they be fed.  It is really up to you how often you feed them.  If you want to spend time at the pond and interact with the fish then feed them daily in the warmer months and twice to three times a week in cooler times.  Each fish needs only five small, medium or large pellets per day depending on the size of the fish.  Feed them less if insects are a problem.  Goldfish enjoy mosquitos and keep water free of pests. 

There is a wide range of different fish food.  Most are made from fish products.  Floating fish food is a good choice.  It stays on the surface where fish come up to feed on it.  It comes in pellet form, in three sizes to suit the different sizes of fish.  Flakes are high protein and sink after a moment.  Flakes are good for small aquariums and for newly hatched fish.  You fish like hard boiled egg yolk too.  Do not overfeed fish in aquariums. 

Prices and availability of fish at Nikau Hill 

Fish sold only at the nursery.  Please ring first if you are purchasing specific fish.  They are in our nine waterlily ponds and it does save a lot of time for us.  If you are coming some distance it helps to bring a chilly bin to put the bag of fish in. This is quite important in summer as cars get very hot and fish get stressed.  All prices include GST. 

Comets are fast moving fish with brilliant colours of orange, or orange with black markings, especially on fins and tail.  Their tails are longer and more attractive than the common goldfish, which has a shorter tail.  Most comets start out black and change to orange as they age.  Some of our comets have white markings as they must have a bit of shubunkin them.

Calico fans are shorter and fatter, funky looking fish spotted and splashed with black, charcoal, orange and red.  Their tail fins are frilly and double.

Red fans are also shorter and much fatter that comets. They come in mix and match shades of red and white or even pure white.  Short frilly tails make them a lot easier to catch.  Extremely beautiful fish!

Blackmooors are shiny black fish with longer, chubbier bodies and protruding eyes.  Slow moving fish they are quite shy and very different fellows.

Chocolate fans  These are delightful, fast moving, tan coloured fish with the size and shape of a comet.