Freshly hatched fry are incredibly small and need high quality food to survive. That is why it’s essential to have foods available immediately upon hatching, as well as having them available until they can eat standard fare.
Infusoria, green water and egg yolk are ideal foods for this critical stage. It’s wise to have these on hand and feed small amounts frequently during this period.
Contents
Infusoria
Infusoria are microscopic organisms that float in murky waters. They provide essential nutrition to tropical fish fry as soon as they hatch, providing them with essential vitamins and minerals needed for growth and development.
Infusoria are microalgae, rotifers and non-photosynthetic paramecia found in rivers, ponds and streams. These organisms can easily be cultured for your newly hatched fry and provide them with essential nutrition.
Cultured infusoria can easily be made at home using a glass jar filled with water from an established aquarium and some vegetables, such as lettuce, peas or sprouts. Place the jar under an overhead light or in a sunny window and leave for several days to develop.
Once the infusoria have risen to the surface and begun multiplying, feed your fry small amounts of cultured water several times a day using either a syringe or pipette. Doing this will encourage their growth rapidly and provide them with enough food until they reach an adult size where commercial fry foods become suitable.
Egg Yolk
Egg yolk is a highly sought-after tropical fish fry food due to its high protein and nutritional content. It accounts for almost all the fat in an egg and is one of the few foods naturally containing vitamin D.
Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that protect your eyes from oxidative stress and cataracts, are two essential minerals found in this food. Furthermore, iron and phosphorus are present as two minerals essential for good health; zinc being one of them.
Utilizing an egg yolk is both simple and cost-effective. Simply hard boil an egg, remove its shell, then wrap in gauze before compressing so that it’s smaller than a normal yolk (but larger than what can be ground into fry flake).
Add it to the tank and hang it from the top, providing food for the fry. Replace this daily for several days; don’t leave it in for too long as this could contaminate the water.
Insects
Tropical fish feed on insects, crustaceans, worms and other small invertebrates in the wild. These creatures provide them with protein, vitamins and minerals – essential elements for survival in water.
Are you searching for a way to add some life to your pond or aquarium, consider raising some insects for your fish to eat. Popular options include mosquito larvae, glassworms and gnats.
Mosquito larvae are easy to harvest and don’t need special equipment. Place a container of water near a pond or shaded area and leave it out for one week; scoop up the wiggling larvae that are ready for feeding to your fish – they will go crazy for it! Restock with new water when finished. Alternatively, purchase insect larvae in freeze-dried or live forms if time or resources are limited – perfect for those with limited resources!
Other Foods
Maintaining tropical fish fry can be a challenge when it comes to finding them tasty treats they’ll actually eat. Unfortunately, smaller fry cannot stomach pellet or flake foods like larger fish can, so they often need special diets in order to begin their journey towards adulthood.
Baby brine shrimp are hands down the best and most interesting thing to feed your fry. Not only do these little guys contain essential nutrients and proteins for young fish, but they are highly unlikely to kill your fry – in fact, they may even help them grow! It’s important to note that not all brine shrimp are created equal so make sure you read all instructions on your packet carefully so you get a healthy batch of golden shrimps. Brine shrimp thrive best in small tanks with strong aeration and cooling water temperatures.
