If you notice that your aquarium fish have babies, the first thing you should do is separate them from the adult fish to prevent predation and provide a safe environment for their growth. This article will guide you through the steps of caring for your fish fry, from feeding to water changes, and help you enjoy the rewarding experience of raising your own fish.
There are different ways to separate the fish fry from the adult fish, depending on the type and size of your aquarium. Here are some common methods:
Breeding box or net: This is a small container or mesh that hangs inside the aquarium and isolates the fish fry from the rest of the tank. It has holes or slits that allow water to flow through, but prevent the adult fish from entering. This is a simple and inexpensive option, but it has some drawbacks. It can reduce the water quality and oxygen levels in the breeding box, and it can stress the fish fry by exposing them to the sight and movement of the adult fish.
Breeding tank: This is a separate aquarium that is dedicated to the fish fry. It can be a small or medium-sized tank, depending on the number and species of your fish fry. It should have a filter, heater, and light, and it should be cycled and conditioned before adding the fish fry. This is a more expensive and complex option, but it has many advantages. It allows you to control the water parameters and quality more easily, and it gives the fish fry more space and privacy to grow and develop.
Plants and decorations: This is a natural and low-cost way to provide hiding places and shelter for the fish fry in the main aquarium. You can use live or artificial plants, rocks, caves, driftwood, or other ornaments to create a dense and complex aquascape that offers protection and cover for the fish fry. This method works best for species that are good parents and guard their offspring, such as cichlids, or species that are peaceful and do not prey on their young, such as livebearers.
Feeding the fish fry is one of the most important aspects of their care, as it affects their growth, health, and survival. Fish fry have different nutritional needs and preferences than adult fish, and they require frequent and varied feeding. Here are some tips on how to feed your fish fry:
Feed them small and high-quality foods: Fish fry have tiny mouths and digestive systems, so they need foods that are small enough for them to eat and digest. They also need foods that are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals to support their rapid growth and development. Some examples of suitable foods for fish fry are:
Infusoria: These are microscopic organisms that live in aquatic environments, such as algae, bacteria, protozoa, and rotifers. They are the ideal food for newly hatched fish fry that are too small to eat anything else. You can culture your own infusoria by placing some lettuce, banana peel, or other organic matter in a jar of water and letting it sit for a few days until it becomes cloudy with infusoria. You can then use a pipette or a turkey baster to transfer some of the infusoria to the fish fry tank.
Baby brine shrimp: These are the larvae of brine shrimp, also known as Artemia. They are a highly nutritious and attractive food for fish fry, as they are rich in protein, fatty acids, and carotenoids. They are also easy to hatch and harvest at home, using a brine shrimp hatchery kit that consists of a container, an air pump, some salt, and some brine shrimp eggs. You can feed the baby brine shrimp to the fish fry using a pipette or a fine-mesh net.
Microworms: These are small and white worms that belong to the nematode family. They are a good food for fish fry that are slightly larger and can eat solid foods. They are also easy to culture at home, using a plastic container, some oatmeal or bread, some yeast, and some microworm starter culture. You can feed the microworms to the fish fry by scraping them off the sides of the container and rinsing them in some water.
Crushed flakes or pellets: These are the same foods that you feed to your adult fish, but crushed or ground into smaller pieces. They are a convenient and economical food for fish fry that are big enough to eat them. However, they are not as nutritious or palatable as live or frozen foods, and they can pollute the water if overfed. You should only use high-quality flakes or pellets that are specially formulated for fish fry, and soak them in some water before feeding to make them softer and easier to swallow.
Feed them frequently and moderately: Fish fry have high metabolic rates and need to eat often to sustain their growth and energy. However, they also have small stomachs and can only eat a little at a time. Therefore, you should feed them small amounts of food several times a day, rather than large amounts of food once or twice a day. A good rule of thumb is to feed them as much as they can eat in 2 to 3 minutes, and remove any uneaten food after each feeding. You should also vary the types of food you feed them to ensure a balanced and diverse diet.
Water changes are essential for maintaining a healthy and clean environment for the fish fry. Fish fry are more sensitive and vulnerable to water quality issues than adult fish, and they can suffer from stress, disease, or death if the water is not changed regularly and properly. Here are some guidelines on how to change the water for the fish fry:
Change the water frequently and gradually: Fish fry produce a lot of waste and ammonia, which can build up and harm them if the water is not changed often enough. However, fish fry can also be stressed and shocked by sudden and drastic changes in water temperature, pH, or hardness. Therefore, you should change the water frequently but gradually, to keep the water fresh and stable. A good practice is to change 10 to 20% of the water every day or every other day, depending on the size and filtration of your tank. You should also use a gravel vacuum or a siphon to remove any debris or uneaten food from the substrate or the bottom of the tank.
Use dechlorinated and aged water: Fish fry are sensitive to chlorine and chloramine, which are chemicals that are added to tap water to kill harmful bacteria and parasites. However, these chemicals can also damage the gills and skin of the fish fry, and interfere with the beneficial bacteria that break down ammonia and nitrite in the tank. Therefore, you should use dechlorinated and aged water for your water changes, to make it safe and suitable for the fish fry. You can dechlorinate the water by using a water conditioner or a dechlorinator, which are products that neutralize or remove chlorine and chloramine from the water. You can also age the water by letting it sit in a bucket or a container for 24 to 48 hours, to allow the chlorine and chloramine to evaporate naturally. You should also match the temperature and pH of the new water to the old water, to avoid shocking the fish fry.
Be gentle and careful: Fish fry are delicate and fragile, and they can be easily injured or stressed by the water change process. Therefore, you should be gentle and careful when changing the water for the fish fry, and avoid disturbing or harming them. You should use a soft and flexible tubing or a hose to siphon the water out of the tank, and avoid sucking up any fish fry by accident. You should also use a fine-mesh net or a cup to transfer the fish fry from one tank to another, and avoid exposing them to air or handling them with your hands. You should also acclimate the fish fry to the new water by adding it slowly and gradually, and monitor their behavior and health after the water change.
Caring for aquarium fish fry can be a challenging but rewarding hobby, as you get to witness the miracle of life and the beauty of nature. By following the steps and tips in this article, you can provide the best possible care for your fish fry, and help them grow into healthy and happy adult fish. We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. Thank you for reading!
