I have been told so many times that dramatic changes in air pressure - as before storms and such - can put goldies into breeding mode. I believed it probably did, but had no direct evidence. Well, now I do.

Yesterday, our air pressure dropped precipitously during a dramatic temperature change and every single goldie in my house dropped eggs or sperm. What a mess. Every tank was foamy or covered in sticky eggs! Whew.

(I keep all my sexes separated. I do not want breeding in this household - I have no room for fry, nor any desire to cull. I also really do not like females and avoid them whereever possible. )

My question is, however, is why the males responded in that fashion!?!?!?!

I understand the females. But the males?

Could they have somehow been responding to signals from the females in the tanks next to them? Is it possible for visual clues to occur from tank to tank? or can the chemical signals they give travel through the air? Was it completely by chance or is it possible that air pressure can have that dramatic of effect on the male fish? I have never had a male do anything unless there was a female in attendance. Yesterday was a first.

Water temp. remained stable the whole time - no changes.

So - are the males affected by air pressure too? Or perhaps there was some other clue there that I missed?

???????????????????????????

I would say that the males "feel" the air pressure as well, and without a female around they still go after each other. Wouldn't be the first time that a male chases a male out of frustration... I have seen quite a few males going after their own sex when there weren't any females in the tank.
Funny thought of the signales from the female tank hopping over to the male tank!

Too bad you aren't into the whole egg/fry thing, Carol - your fish would make some wonderful babies! Rocky comes to mind, so does your veiltail....

wow..thats an interesting thought...wodl like to experiment with that...but I cant separate my goldies until the current fry grow up

interesting....my calico orandas have been spawning for some time now and yet I don't see any eggs....maybe they are both male and affected with the air pressure as well since we have had storms on and off now....