I have an 18" female Bekko koi that is filled with eggs.... My problem is that I cannot find a male to fertilize them....

At what size can a male koi fertilize eggs?... And how long can a female stay in that position without being delivered?

I went out on Ebay, but most of the sellers have koi that they don't know is male or female.... and the shipping costs are outrageous, so I don't want to bid ill advised or blindly....

(( :huh: I just can't imagine that someone cannot tell the sex of a fish at 13 or 15 inches))

The sellers that happen to know the sex of their koi are selling them at ridiculous prices and there are no local sellers of koi in my area....

I am going to attempt to purchase a smaller one to see if it would fertilize her eggs..... But, no one knows the sex....


I'll be greatful for any advice!!! :rolleyes: ....


Thx,
adreamer2

That's a big girl. She would best mate with a large male but male koi in the 9+ inch range might be able to spawn with her. Stores that sell large, expensive koi could get you a big male but it would cost a lot. Normally, cheap koi aren't raised and sold as adults. If there is no male around, a healthy female will reabsorb the eggs inside of her within a week or so. If she can't, then she becomes egg bound due to an infection (bacteria growing on the eggs inside her). Someone who knows what they're doing can strip her of her eggs with their hands but don't try it if you don't know how (basically you rub your hands down her abdomen to get the eggs out but you don't want to squish her). Probably, if you do nothing, she'll be ok 80% of the time.

That's good advice.... Thx!!!

I did bid on an 8-10" Sanke... Looks like a male to me...

But, if not, then it will be beautiful in my pond....

Will a butterfly koi spawn with a domestic or japanese koi?.....


Thx,
adreamer2

Yes, all the varieties of koi will interbreed.