How Do Stickleback Fish Reproduce

After building a nest of plant materials glued together by threadlike, mucous secretions from his kidneys, the male coaxes and drives a female into the nest to lay her eggs. He then follows her into the nest to fertilize the eggs. More than one female may be chosen, and each female may lay up to 200 eggs.

Where do sticklebacks lay their eggs?

In the spring, the male develops a bright red throat and belly and performs a courtship dance to attract a mate. He builds a sheltered nest out of vegetation, under which the female will lay up to 400 eggs. The male then defends the nest from other fish until the young hatch up to four weeks later.

What do baby sticklebacks eat?

They eat all sorts of invertebrates, such as worms, insect larvae, small snails, crustaceans and water fleas. They even eat young fish and fish eggs – sometimes searching out those of other sticklebacks!