Reproduction

Males begin to build nests in the spring when the water temperature is around 59 degrees Fahrenheit to 66 degrees Fahrenheit. He builds a nest form organic debris, algae, and other materials found in the water. The nests are then attached to vegetation by a white colored 'cement' that the male secretes. He will then search for a female that has eggs. After the female enters the Brook Stickleback found at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/species_a_to_z/SpeciesGuideIndex/brookstickleback/tabid/6573/Default.aspxnest, she is continuously prodded by the male until she deposits the eggs. After the female leaves the nest, she is chased away by the male. The male enters the nest again and fertilizes the eggs. He then aerates the eggs and defends them from predators that may come around. Depending on the water temperature, the eggs hatch within seven to eleven days. After the eggs hatch, the male stays and guards the nest by retrieving the fry that try leaving. Once he catches them in his mouth he 'spits' them back into the nest. Once many fry start escaping at the same time and he is unable to keep up he will abandon them or eat all of the offspring that he can.

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