No, male fish do not lay eggs normally. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, seahorse and pipefish males carry the fertilized eggs in a special pouch on their bodies until they hatch. These males are known as “pregnant” males.
The act of spawning takes place in a "nuptial embrace" where the male wraps his body around the female, each embrace resulting in the release of 10-40 eggs until the female is exhausted of eggs. The male, from his side, releases milt into the water and fertilization takes place externally.
"The reproductive behaviour of fishes is remarkably diversified: they may be oviparous (lay eggs), ovoviviparous (retain the eggs in the body until they hatch), or viviparous (have a direct tissue connection with the developing embryos and give birth to live young).
Examples include certain catfishes, cichlids, and cardinal fishes. The male of the sea catfish Galeichthys felis places up to 50 fertilized eggs in its mouth and retains them until they are hatched and the young are two or more weeks old. The cardinal fish Apogon imberbis incubates the eggs in the pharynx.
Wild fish reproduce in various ways depending on the species of fish. In most cases, the females release eggs into the water and they are immediately fertilized by sperm from the male. In the wild, fish can easily reproduce when they sexually mature.
Despite odds, fish species that bypasses sexual reproduction is thriving. An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of the Amazon molly, a fish that reproduces asexually. The researchers expected that the asexual organism would be at a genetic disadvantage, but the Amazon molly is thriving.
Some species of sawfish can reproduce without a mate. Scientists documented a series of “virgin births”, reproduction without mating, in a critically endangered sawfish species pushed to the brink of extinction by over-fishing and habitat destruction in 2015.
Yet scientists have repeatedly observed males eating some of the carefully-provided for eggs. Filial cannibalism often occurs in fish species in which males care for the eggs or young.
Fish pregnancies usually last between 3 weeks and 10 months. This huge range is due to the differences between various fish species. Aquarium fish like goldfish or guppies are at the lower end of the spectrum. On the other end, the basking shark and frilled shark have gestation periods of 3 and 3.5 years, respectively.
You can determine the sex of your fish by inspecting its gonads (reproductive organs), which are located towards the top of the gut cavity. Mature female fish will have orange ovaries and male fish will have white testes (see photos above).
Some aquarium fish carry the eggs inside of them. When the eggs are fertilized, they eventually hatch inside the mother, and the babies emerge in a live birth. Other types of fish lay hundreds of eggs in nests within the aquarium, in this case, the males fertilize these eggs, and then they hatch into live fish.
The female lays the eggs, after which the male fertilizes them. The male fish keeps the eggs inside its mouth until they hatch. This protects the eggs from being eaten up by sea animals. What is a fish?
Scientists call this condition intersex, and while its exact causes are unknown, it's been linked to manmade, environmental chemicals that mimic or block sex hormones.
The reasons for this preference for caring males is still unclear, however, scientists have several hypotheses. One of the most interesting hypotheses is related to filial cannibalism in fish species. Although some fish fathers are great at taking care of their eggs, this task can be demanding.
Thus, in fish, investment in offspring care does not constrain a male's mating success but rather augments it, suggesting that the relatively high prevalence of male-only care in fish may be in part explained by sexual selection through female preference for caring males.
It is possible to raise baby fish in your main tank, but generally, few will survive this. Larger fish will see them as tasty snacks and even vegetarian fish may be tempted. They can also suffer injuries from being chased and bullied.
Energetic Mating Behavior
If the female Oscar plays hard to get, the suitor will become more physical with rubbing behavior that may look like fighting when it isn't. Oscar couples always get along even when they're not mating, so if you spot aggressive behavior and chasing, you'll know they're actually mating.
Eggs: Fertilized eggs develop into fish. Most eggs do not survive to maturity even under the best conditions. Threats to eggs include changes in water temperature and oxygen levels, flooding or sedimentation, predators and disease. Larval: Larval fish live off a yolk sac attached to their bodies.
New discoveries amaze us each day. And this exactly what has happened yet again. Two female ray fish have given birth to pups without a male ray fish being present in their ranks. The news has created quite a stir in scientific community and beyond.
Yes, fish experience both physical and emotional pain. Scientists say that it's likely a different type than what humans experience, but it's pain nonetheless. Fish have nerve cell endings called nociceptors, which alert their bodies to potential harm such as high temperatures, intense pressure, and harmful chemicals.
Summary: Female fish can breed a new species if they aren't choosy about who is Mr. Right. Fish will mate with a species outside their own if the male's coloring is attractive enough or if the female can't see him properly, according to new research.