Types of Egg Layers | Where Eggs Are Laid | Fertilization Method | Common Species |
---|---|---|---|
Mouthbrooders | In water, then collected in mouth once fertilized and held there until birth; some hold fry in mouth for up to a week after birth | Fertilized by spawning before being gathered in mouth | Freshwater cichlids, bettas, cardinal fish, gobies, blennies |
Nest builders | A spot in substrate, a structure made of plant materials, bubble nest (foamy structure) | Spawning | Bass, bluegills, sticklebacks, gouramis, bettas |
Egg scatterers | Sticky eggs: laid within a certain area under cover; nonsticky eggs: set adrift in open water | Male swims by and sprays semen, or milt, around the area | Cardinal tetras, tiger barbs, zebra danios, goldfish, koi |
Egg depositors | Laid in one spot, usually substrate or glass | Male swims by and fertilizes eggs | Rainbow fish, killifish, dwarf cichlids, clownfish |
Egg buriers | Buried in soft substrate | Male dives into substrate to fertilize eggs | Killifish, rare and endangered species in the wild |