How long does it take fish eggs to hatch this can be complicated as there are an absolute plethora of fish species. Each type of fish has its own unique way of both spawning fertilizing and indeed hatching its eggs.
That being said there is a definitive timeline we can use the shortest time and the longest and extrapolate those averages to give a decent time frame.
How Long Does It Take Fish Eggs To Hatch
How long does it take fish eggs to hatch Given the correct water parameters, fish eggs will hatch between 1 and 16 days after being fertilized Eggs that are unfertilized will not hatch.
Why A Vast Difference Between Hatching Times
All fish have their own unique way of doing things. Fish have different habits they carry a myriad
of ways from spawning times to egg production times whether the eggs are kept in nests and hatching times seem to be just another
one of those. Nature is what makes them different species from one another.
There are of course other things that can delay speed up or in fact stop the hatching of these fish eggs.
Things That Help And Hinder Fish Eggs Hatching
Water Conditions
Fish have desired parameters when it comes to water conditions. Temperature is important as well as the ph levels. In fact, most fish need slightly different conditions for breeding than they do for general living in your home aquarium.
Take neon tetra, for example, they will need slightly warmer water around 77f but lower ph of around 5-6 or they won’t even spawn their eggs.
Are The Eggs Fertile
A common problem is females spawning and the eggs not being ripe. Or the eggs not being fertilized by the male. Sometimes females will lay eggs without a male even being present. Or the male doesn’t fertilize them all. If this happens these eggs will not hatch.
How To Tell If The Eggs Have Been Fertilized
In most cases when the eggs have been laid they are white or clear slightly transparent. The eggs are then fertilized by the male and his milt. After the male has done this the eggs will change color. Usually to a yellowish or orange color.
Where Did The Eggs Go
Now when your fish spawned she laid a number of eggs. Most fish can lay between 100 and 1000 eggs comfortably so why do I see so few eggs left now?
A big reason fish lay so many eggs is the fact they get eaten yep even the parents of most species will eat their own eggs.
Hatching Eggs In Home Tank
As stated earlier this can be tricky as water conditions need to be exact for some fish to even spawn. Although with some fish you may well start seeing eggs. If you do start getting eggs to check if they have changed color.
If they have you could remove them and put them in a breeding tank. Making sure that the conditions are better suited for hatching. Or if the parents are paternal and the type to actually look after them. Then id remove any predators that might cause trouble.
Ultrnitivly you could remove the parents and eggs to a breeding tank to be extra safe. Although this could potentially distress the parents.
Breeding Tanks
If you are actively seeking eggs and want to observe and hatch eggs. And breed your fish then setting up a breeding tank and moving the male and female over before spawning is best. As there are no distractions and no predators and you don’t need to move the eggs about. Or even the parents unless there the kind that eats the eggs and then move them.
Protecting The Eggs
If in a breeding tank then this becomes easy. Remove the parents if they are not the paternal type. If in the main tank you might want to divide the eggs from any predators or the parents for that matter.
It may be easier to just move the eggs into a breeding tank. You can put marbles down all around the spawning site. Do this before the spawning and the eggs will fall between the marbles as they are so small.
This will allow the eggs to hatch but once the fry is born and moving around you will have to keep an eye on them as they will be eaten.
A Few Examples Of Fish Eggs And Hatching Times
Fun Fact Shortest Hatching Time
Neon tetra fish eggs hatch in around 24 hours that’s right just a day for the egg to hatch.
The longest Time For Fish Egg To Hatch
This distinction belongs to the killifish at a whopping 16 days for their eggs to hatch.
How Long Does It Take For Fish Eggs To Hatch Conclusion
In concluding this post id say the length of time a fish takes to hatch its eggs is very nuanced. There are many thousands of different species of fish. They all have their ways but if we look at most fish that lay eggs the average seems to be 4 days.
I hope you enjoyed the read and feel free to look around the site for more great articles id like to leave you with a few articles from the do fish series.
Do Fish Series
Do Fish Hibernate What Is Torpor
Do Fish Feel Pain How We Know A Fish Is In Pain
do fish lose scales? lets investigate
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