Newly hatched betta fry live off their yolk sac for the first day or two, so do not feed them right away. Once they are free-swimming (usually about 2 to 4 days after hatching), start with tiny live foods such as infusoria or vinegar eels, then move up to microworms and newly hatched baby brine shrimp.
Feeding timeline
- Days 1 to 3: No feeding. The fry absorb their yolk sac and stay in the bubble nest or near the surface.
- Days 3 to 10: Infusoria, vinegar eels or other very small foods. Fry mouths are tiny at first.
- Around 1 to 2 weeks: Add newly hatched baby brine shrimp (nauplii) and microworms.
- 2 to 4 weeks and beyond: Continue brine shrimp, add finely crushed high-protein flake or powdered fry food, and later move to daphnia and small frozen foods.
Good first foods
Infusoria
Infusoria is a mix of microscopic organisms from an aged culture, and it is small enough for a first meal. It only supports fry for the first days, so move on within a week or so.
Vinegar eels and microworms
Both are tiny live worms that survive in the water for hours, giving fry time to eat. They are easy to culture at home and make good bridge foods.
Baby brine shrimp
Newly hatched brine shrimp are one of the best growth foods for betta fry. Rinse them before feeding so you don’t add salt water to the tank.
Powdered egg yolk
Some breeders use a tiny pinch of cooked, powdered egg yolk, but it fouls water quickly. Use it sparingly and only if you can do water changes.
How often and how much
Feed small amounts 3 to 4 times a day. The aim is a pink, rounded belly, not a swollen one. Remove uneaten food and do small, careful water changes, because fry are sensitive to ammonia and dirty water.
Bottom Line
Wait for the fry to become free-swimming, start with the smallest live foods, and move to baby brine shrimp as they grow. Keep the water clean and feed little and often. More detail is in our betta fry feeding chart, best food for betta fry and homemade food for betta fry.
