Breeding·
Why Are My Goldfish Fry Dying?
Losing fry every day? Match their age and what you see to the likely cause, then fix the water, food, or setup before more are lost.
Linda Holmes · 4 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 learn how to make a spawning mop. Sticky eggs attach to these surfaces during spawning.
- Protect the spawn. Our guide to what to do when goldfish lay eggs covers moving the egg-covered plants or mop to a nursery. Parents can eat both eggs and newly hatched young. Then check how long the eggs take to hatch at your water temperature.
- 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 · Three free scenarios
Practice the decisions before your first spawn
Work through a first clutch, a surprise spawn, and a tank of sick fry. Every choice gets feedback, and you can fix mistakes as you go.
Goldfish breeding simulatorFree clutch tracker · Saves in your browser
Follow your clutch from egg to young fish
Get a hatch window based on your water temperature, see which stage your fry are in, and tick off each day’s care. No sign-up needed.
Goldfish fry growth chartBreeder directory · Free listings
Buy fish from the people who bred them
Find small farms and home fish rooms by state and variety, then contact them directly. Breed your own? Add your fish room for free.
Find a breederStart with your aquarium
Find the help you need
Compare the options, see the main precautions, and follow the practical steps in each guide.
Breeding·
When to Feed Goldfish Fry
Newly hatched fry live off their yolk at first. See the sign they're ready to eat, what to offer first, and how often to feed in the first month.
Linda Holmes · 3 min
Breeding·
When Do Goldfish Fry Get Their Color?
Baby goldfish stay brown or bronze for months. See when the orange usually shows up, why some fish change faster, and which dark patches need a vet.
Linda Holmes · 3 min
Breeding·
How Long Do Goldfish Eggs Take to Hatch?
Water temperature sets the pace. Compare hatch times measured at five temperatures, learn the signs eggs are on track, and see why some never hatch.
Linda Holmes · 3 min
Breeding·
Fertilized vs Unfertilized Goldfish Eggs: How to Tell Them Apart
Fresh eggs all look alike at first. Learn the signs that show which ones are developing, what white or fuzzy eggs mean, and what to do with each.
Linda Holmes · 3 min
Breeding·
Brine Shrimp for Goldfish Fry: How to Hatch and Feed Them
Newly hatched brine shrimp are a classic first live food. Learn how to hatch them in about a day, when to start a batch, and how to feed without fouling the nursery.
Linda Holmes · 3 min
Breeding·
What to Do When Goldfish Lay Eggs
Found eggs after a spawn? Protect them from the adults, prepare a nursery, and recognize when the young are ready for their first food.
Linda Holmes · 5 min
Breeding·
How to Make a Spawning Mop for Goldfish
Turn acrylic yarn into an egg-collecting tassel with a book, scissors, and a suction cup. Follow the steps and check the finished mop before use.
Linda Holmes · 4 min
Breeding·
How to Make a Green Water Culture
Grow a separate freshwater algae supply with a known starter, suitable nutrients, and steady light. Use it to support a live-food plan for young fish.
Linda Holmes · 5 min
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 Holmes · 6 min
Goldfish·
Goldfish Tank Mates That Live Well Together
Compare Fantails, Orandas, Black Moors, and single-tailed varieties, plus the conditions for keeping snails or schooling fish with them.
Linda Holmes · 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 Holmes · 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