As an aquarium hobbyist, nothing is more exciting than peering into your tank one morning and discovering a cluster of tiny fish eggs It’s thrilling proof that your fish are healthy and happy enough in their environment to reproduce. But those tiny eggs can also trigger some questions – like what do fish eggs really look like?
In this complete visual guide we’ll explore the wide diversity of fish egg appearance size, and behavior. Grab your magnifying glass and let’s take a closer look!
Fish Eggs 101
Before zooming in on specific species, let’s review some fish egg basics:
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Most fish are oviparous – they lay eggs that hatch outside the mother’s body, rather than giving live birth.
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Egg size ranges dramatically, from tiny dots to large, elongated capsules over 1 inch long. Size depends on the species and the female’s age/size.
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Shape is typically round or oblong. Some species lay individual eggs, others lay groups or strands.
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Color varies from clear/translucent to shades of yellow, orange, pink, or black, depending on pigments in the yolk and oil globules.
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Adhesiveness also varies. Eggs may drift in open water or stick to plants, rocks or tank surfaces.
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Fertilized eggs develop an embryo that eventually hatches. Unfertilized eggs turn white/fungus and decay.
Now let’s peek at some popular aquarium fish eggs!
Betta Fish Eggs
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Appearance: Small pearl-like dots, about 1mm wide. Fertilized eggs turn yellowish with dark eye-spots. Unfertilized stay white.
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Behavior: Male bettas build bubble nests to shelter the eggs. Female releases up to 500 eggs that the male collects and places in the nest.
Guppy Eggs
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Appearance: Translucent dots about 2mm wide. Develop a dark eye spot when fertilized.
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Behavior: Guppies are livebearers that retain eggs inside the female. She gives birth to 20-60 live fry.
Molly Eggs
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Appearance: Slightly oval, pale yellow about 3mm long.
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Behavior: Another livebearer. Female molly gives birth to 20-60 live fry after a 60-70 day gestation.
Platy Eggs
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Appearance: Beanshaped, yellow-orange, 2-3mm long.
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Behavior: Female platy retains eggs/embryos inside for 3-6 weeks before giving birth to 10-60 live fry.
Angelfish Eggs
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Appearance: Tiny transparent amber dots less than 1mm wide. Fertile eggs remain amber, infertile turn white.
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Behavior: Laid in rows on broad leaves. Male fertilizes. Parents guard eggs which hatch in 2-3 days.
Discus Fish Eggs
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Appearance: Large elongated capsules up to 1 inch long. Yellow, brown, pink, or blue.
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Behavior: Stuck to vertical surfaces. Hatch in 2-3 days. Parents protect.
Cichlid Eggs
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Appearance: Small white or yellow dots, 1-2mm wide.
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Behavior: Laid on rocks or tank surfaces. Many cichlid species are mouthbrooders – parents hold eggs and fry in their mouths.
Goldfish Eggs
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Appearance: Adhesive, clear dots 1-2mm wide. Turn opaque when fertilized.
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Behavior: Scattered among plants/rocks. No parental care. Hatch in 2-7 days.
Gourami Eggs
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Appearance: Clear dots about 1mm in diameter.
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Behavior: Nest builders. Males construct bubblenests for egg deposition. No further parental care.
Tetra Eggs
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Appearance: Translucent yellow-brown dots, 1-2mm wide.
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Behavior: Scattered among plants. No parental care. Eggs hatch in 1-2 days.
Catfish Eggs
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Appearance: Small brown dots 1mm wide.
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Behavior: Many catfish are mouthbrooders. Parents hold eggs/fry in their mouths for protection.
Corydoras Catfish Eggs
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Appearance: Tight clusters of small yellow eggs.
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Behavior: Laid on tank surfaces like leaves. Parental care varies by species. Eggs sensitive to light/disturbance.
Loach Eggs
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Appearance: Clear or yellow gel sacs up to 5mm wide.
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Behavior: Often buried in substrate. Take 3-10 days to hatch. No parental care.
Rainbowfish Eggs
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Appearance: Golden-yellow dots, 1-2mm wide.
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Behavior: Scatter eggs among plants. Males fertilize. No further care. Hatch in 7-10 days.
Swordtail Fish Eggs
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Appearance: Pale yellow dots, 2-3mm long.
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Behavior: Livebearers. Females give birth to 20-60 live fry after 4-6 week gestation.
Bottom Line
Hopefully this guide has shed some light on the wonderful diversity of fish egg appearance and reproductive strategies in the aquarium hobby. From tiny transparent dots to giant gel capsules, fish eggs come in an array of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Learning to recognize the eggs in your tank is part of the thrill of fishkeeping. So grab a magnifier and keep an eye out for these amazing signs of new fishy life!
Frequency of Entity Mentions
- Egg/Eggs – 55
- Appearance – 28
- Behavior – 28
- Livebearers – 6
- Fry – 5
- Parental Care – 4
- Hatch – 4
- Fertilize – 3
- Bubble Nest – 2
- Mouthbrooders – 2
- Translucent – 2
- Dots – 2
Fish hatching from eggs (under the microscope)
What do fish eggs look like?
The eggs typically have white, translucent, or other shades of color based on the fish species that laid them. Fish eggs can look slightly different based on the colors and shape. Here’s a chart that explains the egg color and shape of some aquarium fish you could have heard of in the hobby.
How can one tell if an egg is bad?
The egg is not good when its shell has micro cracks or is broken, when it is shaken and seems too fluid, when it has been on the shelf for many days and especially out of refrigeration. It is also possible to do the egg immersion test in water. If when placed in a bowl of water the egg sinks to the side, this means that the egg is still fresh. But if he stands up, it means he’s not fresh.
How big are fish eggs?
Fish eggs can vary in size from tiny grains to larger pearls. For example, salmon roe typically consists of small to medium-sized eggs, while sturgeon caviar is known for its larger, more luxurious pearls. As for their shape, fish eggs can be round, slightly elongated, or even irregular in shape.
Are fish eggs round or elongated?
As for their shape, fish eggs can be round, slightly elongated, or even irregular in shape. This natural diversity adds an element of intrigue to the visual appeal of fish eggs. Chefs and food enthusiasts often appreciate the variety in size and shape as it allows for creative plating and presentation options.