How to Care for Baby Fish and Their Life Stages

If you have fish in an aquarium, you could have to deal with a newly born fish. Some fish are livebearers that give birth to a baby fish fry and, most lay eggs.

 The life of a baby fish goes through five developmental stages during its lifetime. 

The Embryo fish

The life cycle of a fish that lays eggs starts with its eggs. A fish’s embryo is formed inside an egg and starts developing its organs.

Larvae

The second stage of a fish's life cycle is the larvae stage. When eggs get hatched, they become larvae in a yolk sack attached to the body that works as their food. The mouth and eyes develop inside the yolk sac.

Baby Fish(Fry )

When the yolk sac has eaten, the larvae change into a fry. Fry is a small young fish that can eat its feed. It is a vital stage when fish starts growing bigger and stronger.

Juvenile Baby Fish

When fry grows larger becomes a juvenile fish. Juvenile fish reach the size of an adult finger and, their scales and fins start growing. In this stage, all the internal organs and fins of fish fully develop but, juvenile fish is still smaller than adult fish.

Adult fish

It is the last stage when juvenile fish changes into adult fish. The fish is now fully grown up and developed. Now it can reproduce and, the female fish can lay eggs.

What to do when your fish has babies

Some fish eat their babies, keep hatched eggs or fry away from adult fish for their safety. Move the baby fish fry to another tank use the water from the original fish tank and put the fry in that water, don't use fishnet for transferring fry. Bring out fry in a cup to prevent them from being harmed. Create a better environment for fish fry as they are, more sensitive to diseases, take care of them by maintaining and setting their tank's requirements.

How to feed baby fish fry

To grow baby fish in a better way is to put them in a small aquarium so they can find their food. Freshly hatched baby fish has small bodies and can eat tiny food. Give baby fish fry a small amount of crushed food five times a day. Baby brine shrimp, fish food, or micro worms is a good option for baby fish. You can feed them a few drops of liquid food infusoria several times a day to a newly hatched fry fish. A baby fish fry needs this type of food for more than a couple of months. The baby fish need to be shifted to a larger aquarium for proper growth but make sure they are large enough not to be eaten by other big fish.

How long does it take baby fish to grow

Every fish needs food to grow, healthy food, and treatment help in fish growth and nourishment. The development of fish depends on the feed given, care, and the environment provided to them.

It will take a time of 4-6 weeks or a few months for a baby fish to become an adult also growth depends upon their species

What makes baby fish grow faster

The growth of a fish depends on many factors. These factors include regular water changes, water temperature, feeding, right-sized tank, and suitable decorations or plants.

Regular water changes

For the healthy growth of baby fish, it is recommended to change to 25% of the water every week. If water changes have not been performed, ammonia and nitrate will build up in a fish aquarium which is harmful for baby fish and its overall growth

Regular feeding

Proper nourishment help in growing baby fish faster. Give food to your baby fish 3-4 times daily in a small amount, take out excess food from a fish aquarium to make sure water will remain clean.

Right-sized tank

Keeping fish in a right-sized tank according to the size of a fish helps in the better growth of these baby fish. Adding too many fish in a small aquarium will affect their growth. Having baby fish in the right size tank will increase growth to a higher level so, it is vital to keep them in an appropriate aquarium.

Decoration and plants

Fish need someplace to feel safe and relaxed. When they are stressed, they can go to their safe place and get contended. Fish gets stressed when there is no safe place for them in a fish tank and, their growth stopped.

Some fish likes planted tanks whereas, some likes caves for hiding. It will cause fish stressed and slow down their growth if they have no safe place so, make sure they have decorations to enjoy life and grow faster.

Water temperature

A stable water temperature is essential for baby fish growth, depending on their types. Research the kind of baby fish you have and their preferred water temperature to provide them water conditions suitable for their faster growth. Baby fish fry prefers a temperature between 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Water filter

Set a sponge filter in a baby fish fry tank to create gentle water flow without producing suction power to keep baby fish safe from being harmed. Sponge filters are breeding spots for zooplankton that fry loves to eat. 

Water parameters

 Water parameters in a fish tank should be balanced for the types of fish that they are. It will differ with some fish likes hard or soft water. A Baby fish fry tank needs proper cleaning and maintenance to prevent diseases and death. Research is a perfect way to find out the water parameters of your baby fish fry

Selling a Baby Fish

At what point you decide to sell your baby fish or keep it depends on you. The decision will also depend on the range of aquarium space you have. If you select to sell them, fish selling stores buy fish babies as well. Sell your baby fish when reaching one inch in size if you have medium size fish. Large fish should sell a quarter to half of their full length.