| The sex of goldfish can be recognized during the spawning season by close inspection of the fish. This is easier said than done when the fish are in constant motion. The fish must be four or five inches in length before the sex related characteristics are noticeable. During May and June the adult female fish will usually have a wider than normal body shape. They get significantly larger when they are filled with eggs. The male will remain much sleeker and will display what appears to be salt grains or a sandpaper-look to the gill covers. This rough surface can be felt during this time as well. The male will chase the female, so the sex can often be determined by their position in line as the chase around the pond. There are many more males than female in the average pond, but with the hundreds of eggs laid during spawning, dozens of fish will survive to grow up. |
