19/04/2026
Fancy Long fin Goldfish
🐟 About this goldfish type
A domesticated form of wild carp, bred for ornamental fins and colors
Generally hardy but slightly slower swimmers than common goldfish
In ponds, they breed naturally in spring–early summer when water warms (around 18–22°C)
🥚 The egg process (what you already have)
Goldfish are egg scatterers:
The female releases hundreds to thousands of sticky eggs
The male fertilizes them immediately
Eggs attach to plants, liner folds, or surfaces (like in your photo)
⏳ Timeline of development
Day 0–1:
Eggs are clear with a small dark center
Fertilization happens fast
Day 2–4:
You start seeing eyes and tiny movement inside
Healthy eggs stay clear to slightly amber
Day 3–7 (depending on temperature):
Eggs hatch → tiny fry emerge (like your first photo)
Fry stay attached using a sticky gland
Next 2–3 days:
Fry don’t swim yet—they absorb their yolk sac
No feeding needed yet
After ~5–7 days:
Fry become free-swimming
This is when feeding starts
🍽️ Feeding stages
Stage 1 (first swim):
Infusoria (natural microorganisms in your pond)
Green water is excellent
Stage 2 (after ~1 week):
Powdered fry food
Crushed flakes
Stage 3 (after ~2–3 weeks):
Baby brine shrimp (best for fast growth)
⚠️ What to watch for
Healthy eggs:
Clear, slightly golden
Visible embryo/eyes
Gradual movement before hatching
Unhealthy eggs:
Turn milky white
Grow cotton-like fungus
Should ideally be removed (to protect others)
🐠 Survival reality (important)
Not all fry will make it:
In ponds, survival can be very low naturally (1–10%)
Causes:
Adults eating eggs/fry
Insects
Water conditions
✅ How to improve survival
Since you’re clearly into ponds, here’s what actually works:
Add dense plants (like hornwort or spawning mops)
Keep gentle water flow
Avoid strong filtration suction near eggs
If you want high survival → move eggs/fry to a separate tank
🎨 What to expect from the babies
This part surprises many people:
Most fry will start brown/bronze
Colors (black, orange, calico) develop over weeks to months
Long fins may or may not show early—it’s genetics
💡 Pro tip (from your photo)
That “hairy” look around your eggs:
Could be biofilm or mild fungus
If embryos are visible → they’re still viable
If it spreads heavily → increase oxygenation slightly
