I have three calico fantai goldfish. The female hase been layinf eggs every week or so for a few months now, but the male isn't fertilizing them. How old do they need to be to spawn ?

It depends. Fish develop at different rates.The best quality milt is apparantly from a 2 year old male fish. A female will produce her best quality eggs on the other hand at around 3 years of age. But a male fish is said to be able to produce milt from a year old and sometimes before that even.

If you are seeing eggs regularly, the eggs have most likely been induced by breeding activity from a male of age. Have you noticed chasing/breeding behavior because that will indicate the male is able to fertilise the eggs. Have you tried removing some of the eggs to a tank with some (same) tank water in to watch for the tiny black dots (fry)that will appear in fertilised eggs after a few days?

Yes there is chasing going on and yes I have removed some eggs, but they are not fertile. I even got a thirs calico, hoping to increase my odds of having the eggs fertilized, but the third one doesn't chase or has ever been chased.

I got the fish at Xmas 2006 and they were a couple inches long. They are about 4" long now. They won't be as old as you say is optimal.

I agree..... I used to think that I was not getting any fertilized eggs because I never saw "activity" from my males.

This is most decidedly NOT true. I bet that if you see eggs and raise them with care, you will have fry.....

hi guys i have a fantail thats 3.5inches and he has sprayed milt

i also have a comet which is 4.1inches can she make eggs and can everyone please post how i can help her make eggs

Here is an update. My calicos spawned agai, and this time, because of the advice I got on this site, I captured a few eggs and put them in a fry net. I now have 4 fry swimming Now I know that they were fertilized even if I didn't see and milt from the males.

Now I can wait till they lay eggs again and capture more of them.n Thanx again.

What exciting news. Congratulations fry dad and thanks for the update