Life Cycles for Coho

Reproduction

• According to the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, female and male coho spawn between July and November. Females use their tail to dig a nest in a freshwater stream or river, where they lay their eggs. The eggs are then fertilized by the sperm of male coho. The female coho buries the eggs and protects them until she dies about two weeks later. Male coho also die shortly after mating.
  
  

Babies

• Coho eggs usually hatch during the springtime. Baby coho stay under the gravel in which they are buried until summertime, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. They stay in shallow parts of streams when they are young and feed on insects, zooplankton and small fish.
  
  

Environments

• When coho become older, they generally migrate to deeper areas of freshwater lakes or oceans, according to the Environmental Protection Information Center. In these habitats, they are hunted by larger fish and birds.
  
  

Adult Coho

• Most coho become adults and are ready to mate by the time they are between three and five years old.
  
  

Adult Appearance

• The average adult coho grows to 24 inches long and weighs between seven and 11 pounds. Coho are usually silver in color until they mate, when they turn red or black.