Guppy fish fry are tiny but pack a lot of eating potential. Guppy fry are some of the most popular fish in the world. People love to watch them grow and develop into beautiful adult fish. But when do guppy fry start to eat? If you are a new guppy owner, you may wonder when and how to feed your fry.
Your guppy fry start eating right after 2 to 3 hours after birth. The fry need good food that contains all the nutrients they need to improve their life. You can start to feed them baby brine shrimp or daphnia from the very beginning and need to drop them off at least three times a day.
In this blog post, we will discuss when they start to eat and what you can feed them. We will also answer some common questions about guppy fry nutrition. Keep reading to learn more!
When Do Guppy Fish Fry Start To Eat?
Isn’t it exciting to see your guppy fry eating just 2 to 3 hours after they are born? Yes, you read that right. These guppy fry start to eat that soon after they are born.
I always thought they would have egg sacs or something to eat right after the birth. But I failed to remember these guppies give direct live birth, and there is no egg or egg sac in the guppy scenario.
Most fish that are born from egg-laying parents are born with a yolk sac attached to their belly. This yolk sac is like an emergency food supply for them and can last up to 72 hours or more.
But it is not the case with livebearers like guppies, mollies, platies, and swordtails. They are born without any yolk sac or emergency food supply.
So, the fry has to start looking for food as soon as they are born. If not, they will die within a few hours. That is why it is so important to have a food supply ready for them when they are born.
What Do Newborn Baby Guppies Eat?
Newborn guppy fry will eat just about anything they can find in their tank. This includes algae, bacteria, leftover fish food, and even other small insects or worms.
In the wild, the fry will start grazing on algae and other microscopic organisms in the water column or on plants.
But in the home aquarium, they might not have enough food sources. So, we need to supplement their diet with commercial fry food or live baby brine shrimp.
What Do You Feed Newborn Guppy Fry?
You can buy commercial fry food at your local fish store or online. There are many different brands and formulas to choose from.
I like to use a combination of live baby brine shrimp and commercial fry food. The live baby brine shrimp are a great source of protein, and the commercial fry food is a good all-around diet.
You can also make your own fry food by grinding up high-quality flake food or pellets into a fine powder. This is what I did when I first started breeding guppies; it worked very well.
Why Are My Baby Guppies Not Eating?
There are a few reasons why your baby guppies might not be eating:
- First, they are not hungry – newborn guppy fry only need to eat a few times a week.
- The water is too cold – guppy fry does best in water at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The water is too dirty – guppy fry is very sensitive to water quality and needs clean water to thrive.
- They are not used to dry food – if you are feeding your guppy fry dry food, they may need a little time to get used to it.
- They are sick – if your guppy fry is listless, has sunken eyes, or clamped fins, they may be sick, and you should take them to a vet.
How To Make My Guppy Fish Eat Again?
If you think your baby guppies are not eating because they are not hungry, the best thing to do is wait. Newborn guppy fry only needs to eat a few times a week, and they will start eating when hungry.
If you think the water is too cold, the best thing to do is raise the temperature gradually. Guppy fry do best in water at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit, so you should slowly raise the temperature until it is in that range.
If you think the water is too dirty, the best thing to do is change it. Guppy fry is very sensitive to water quality and needs clean water to thrive, so you should change the water as often as needed to keep it clean.
If you think they are not used to dry food, the best thing to do is soak the food in the water. For example, Guppy fry may need a little time to get used to dry food, but if you soak it in water, they will be able to eat it more easily.
If you think your guppy fry is sick, the best thing to do is take them to a vet. Guppy fry can get sick easily, and if they are listless, have sunken eyes, or clamped fins, they may be sick and need medical attention.
How Often Do Guppy Fry Eat?
It would help if you fed your guppy fry in small amounts several times a day. It is better to underfeed them than overfeed them.
You can feed your guppy fry as much as you like for the first few hours but remember not to overfeed them.
These growing babies appreciate the small amount of food twice or thrice daily. If you feed them more, the fry will only grow faster, but they might not be able to develop properly.
I have tried feeding them more than that too for the first week, but it only backfired in the form of swim bladder issues and deformities. So, better be safe than sorry!
How Much To Feed Your Guppy Fry?
It would help if you fed your guppy fry very small amounts of food. The best way to do this is to use a toothpick or a skewer to pick up a very small amount of food and then drop it into the tank.
You can also buy special fry food to sink to the bottom of the tank. This is a great option if you are worried about overfeeding your fry.
It would help if you started by feeding them very little food and then gradually increasing it. A good rule of thumb is to give them only as much food as they can eat in two minutes.
If you want to keep your guppy fry alive, you should also remove any uneaten food after two minutes to prevent the water from getting polluted.
You can use a filter to clean the tank more often. Remember your guppy fry cannot live with a filter even when it can manage without air pump.
How Quickly Do Guppy Fry Grow?
Guppy fry grow very quickly! They can double in size in just a few weeks. This is why it is so important to ensure it grows sure that they are getting enough food.
If you are not careful, your fry can quickly outgrow its tank and become too big for the filter to handle. This can lead to water quality problems and even death.
It is also important to remember that guppy fry grows at different rates. Some fry will grow faster than others and may need to be moved to a larger tank sooner. Generally, you can expect your fry to be fully grown in about two to three months.
Can You Overfeed Guppy Fry?
Yes, it is possible to overfeed guppy fry. If you see that your fry are growing too fast or seem unhealthy, you are likely overfeeding them. Try reducing the food you give them and see if their health improves.
Overfeeding can lead to several problems, including swim bladder disease and deformities. Therefore, it is best to err on caution and not overfeed your fry.
If you are unsure how much to feed your fry, many helpful guides online can give you a good starting point. Remember, it is always better to underfeed than overfeeding. Your fry will thank you for it!
But that doesn’t mean you should underfeed them; try to avoid anything like that. Instead, try to give them the perfect amount to grow healthy and strong!
Conclusion
In conclusion, knowing when guppy fish fry start to eat is important. Newborn baby guppies will start to look for food as soon as they are born. Therefore, it is important to have the right food available for them to eat. Guppy fry is easy to care for and can be a fun addition to your home aquarium. With proper care, they will quickly grow and thrive in your tank. Be sure to research what diet is best for them and stick to a regular feeding schedule. Your fry will thank you for it!
Happy Guppy Keeping! 🙂
Happy Fry Growing! 🙂