Spawning Today!

[Julles]

Poor fishies.  In all the overcrowded fish I have, there seems to be only three females, plus a few female goldfish.  They were positively HOUNDED by the males, in their dash around and around the pond.  Water's a mess. 

I see very few eggs in there.  That's because the males who follow behind the breeding fish pick the newly-laid eggs off the sides of the pond as fast as they're laid.  Luckily, I had put in a spawning mat a few days prior, when I saw the females getting really fat in the rear.  Even so, the males were sucking the eggs off the mat. 

I managed to rescue a few, so we'll see how many end up hatching out and making it to maturity. 

[miguynmkoi]

It's so much work for me to tend to the eggs as well as the babies that I  would like to just let nature take its course.  Any survivors get to check their new digs with the turtles    If DD would like to do anything, as I know she will, for the eggs , I relinquish all rights to her! 

[Julles]

Yes, it is a lot of work, and once they finally grow up, it can be hard to find homes for them.  This year, I refused to have the huge 50 gal Rubbermaid tub in the middle of my very small yard, so the spawning mat with its eggs went into a tub I'm using for lilies.  The fry will have fend mostly for themselves in there, with little assistance from me.  I do hope some survive, though.  It's just fun raising babies!

This morning I seperated out a hen and cock from my flock of parakeets, and put them into a breeding cage with a nestbox.    Should have babies in 4-5 weeks.

[PondJoy]

Well, Julles....why on earth do you want babies if you have a hard time getting rid of them later??  I know, I know...it's fun! 

[Jerry]

Watch it!