Egg or live birth?

[SeaGlass Siren]

Back on topic: I think I prefer mermaids laying eggs rather than live birthing.

[Aziara]

Whoa, drama. Lets all take a deep breath and think happy thoughts.
I do like the metamorphosis theory, and i find myself remembering a sci fi book I once read. Granted, the aliens were crab-like in their adult form, but they laid eggs on the coral reef, which hatched into anemone-like polyps. The nursery reef was tended much like a garden. If mermaids were similar, it would explain the singing to ships. Like a killdere bird, they are putting on a show to draw danger away from their babies. The ship sinking could either be an unintended mistake, or maybe the sailors provide valuable nutrients to the polyp babies.
Hey, this is fun making stuff up!

[SeaGlass Siren]

^ changed my mind I like that story better.

[Mermaid Morgann]

Seeing that mermaids are built to swim like other mammals (such as dolphins, whales, etc.) I've always seen them as giving birth to live young. However, I do know of many different ways to look at it. You can say something whimsical like the tear of a maiden whose love was lost at sea lands on a pearl and that one day hatches a mermaid, or something more scientific and literal. I do remember hearing once (though we have mermen so it doesn't necessarily work) that mermaids used sailors to become pregnant simply because there were no mermen. You could also say that mermaids have to be in their human form. Personally I prefer the live birth theory but that's just my take, seeing as I treat mermaids as mammals similar to humans and their reproduction capabilities. c: I do love the different theories/stories here though.

When I get a question like this asked of me from children I usually defer to the "ask your parents where babies come from" excuse anyway. Haha! Mostly because I don't like to get into that sort of stuff with children.

[Mermaid Galene]

I think mermen ought to get pregnant and give birth as male seahorses do, so we mergals have more time to explore and frolic and lure cute sailors to their demise.

[AniaR]

YAAAS GALENE make them do it lol

[Raayvhen]

Galene! Best idea evar!

[Merman Dan]

I think mermen ought to get pregnant and give birth as male seahorses do...

i have been known to call myself Papa Seahorse from time to time.

[Starfrit]

I think mermen ought to get pregnant and give birth as male seahorses do, so we mergals have more time to explore and frolic and lure cute sailors to their demise.

I just read that out loud to my boyfriend and the look on his face. Oh my gods.

Have I mentioned that you're amazing, Galene? Because for real, you are amazing. <3

[Echidna]

[Anahita]

You can say something whimsical like the tear of a maiden whose love was lost at sea lands on a pearl and that one day hatches a mermaid

Damn, that was so pretty to read.... I like that!

[Anahita]

I think mermen ought to get pregnant and give birth as male seahorses do, so we mergals have more time to explore and frolic and lure cute sailors to their demise.

Now if only we could make it so human men could work like that. Lol!

[Mermaid Galene]

[Lucinda]

These are my favorite two pictures that I've found on the subject at hand. Honestly, I can't decide which I like better.

http://image.blingee.com/images15/co...688_319098.gif

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/23...bc61c12743.jpg

[Ilyena]

Best concept ever!!!

[Lostariel Telrunya]

I just had the thought of what would happen if guys on land laid eggs instead of the females and live birth. That then may or may not have led to the thought of what the world would be like if guys had periods and gave birth, and then the females nursed the young, and all the guys trying to be the 'tough one' while having massive stomach cramps and mood swings. I am going to go watch Treehouse for a while and cleanse my mind of such disturbing thoughts now...

[Merman Dan]

To be fair, when my wife was pregnant with our birth children, I got morning sickness.

[MermaidBonnie]

What a fun discussion! My hubby was so cute, he said he wished he could be a seahorse and carry and birth our daughter, awe! I feel we mermaids give birth to live young, like a dolphin would. The fact that we have breasts also supports live birth bc those are needed to feed our babies. Could you imagine mermen without nipples and mermaids without breasts? That would be an interesting picture.

[Merman Dan]

The fact that we have breasts also supports live birth bc those are needed to feed our babies.

Platypus? Echidna?