Shrimp & Snails·
Mystery Snail Laid Eggs: What to Do
Keep a new clutch above water, decide whether to hatch it, and prepare for the tiny snails before they emerge.
Linda Strydom · 6 min
From Linda’s home tanks
Learn how to breed goldfish at home
To breed goldfish at home, prepare healthy adult males and females for spawning, then raise their eggs and fry away from adult fish. Start with the space, equipment, and food the young will need.
Explore the care guidesFrom spawning setup to free-swimming fry
- Prepare the tanks. Have a separate nursery, gentle aeration, and room for the young fish to grow. Treat tap water to remove chlorine before use.
- Condition the adults. Offer a varied diet and maintain clean water. Breeders may prepare fish over several weeks, with gradual temperature changes.
- Provide a place for eggs. Use fine-leaved aquatic plants or a spawning mop. Sticky eggs attach to these surfaces during spawning.
- Protect the spawn. Move the egg-covered plants or mop to the nursery. Parents can eat both eggs and newly hatched young.
- Feed when fry swim freely. Newly hatched fry first use their yolk sacs. Have tiny foods ready, such as freshly hatched brine shrimp, and remove leftover food to protect water quality.
For a detailed breeding routine, see the Bristol Aquarists’ Society breeding guide. The OATA fancy goldfish care sheet also covers spawning and separating eggs from adults.
Breed Goldfish Lab · Free interactive scenario
Practice the decisions before your first spawn
Explore a virtual nursery, choose how to care for eggs and fry, and see what you would change on your next attempt. Six decisions, with feedback along the way.
Try the free simulator →Start with your aquarium
Find the help you need
Compare the options, see the main precautions, and follow the practical steps in each guide.
Goldfish·
Goldfish Tank Mates That Live Well Together
Start with other goldfish of similar swimming ability, then check the risks before adding a different species.
Linda Strydom · 5 min
Goldfish·
Best Substrate for Goldfish: Safer Tank Options
Choose fine sand for an everyday display, or a bare bottom when easy cleaning matters most. See where gravel fits and what to avoid.
Linda Strydom · 5 min
Plan for the fish you raise
Before starting a spawn, decide how much space you can give the growing fish, who will handle daily care, and where they will live as adults. Write down that plan before buying breeding supplies.
Meet the keeper behind the guides
Linda began breeding fancy goldfish in 2022. Her guides bring together observations from her own tanks and references that help explain safe aquarium care.
Read about Linda’s experience