How to Feed Newborn Angel Fish Brine Shrimp

Newly-hatched angelfish (Pterophyllum spp), also know as fry, are tiny. They emerge from the eggs measuring no more than a few millimeters long. After they have used up the yolk reserves, a process that usually takes four to five days, these minute little fish need equally minute food. Live foods are preferable for their first few weeks, but these foods must be very small. Just hatched brine shrimp and microworms sustain angelfish fry until they are big enough to eat flake foods.

Things You'll Need

  • Brine shrimp eggs
  • Brine shrimp hatchery
  • Sieve
  • Turkey baster
  • Flake, frozen and live foods
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a brine shrimp hatchery. Either acquire a ready-made hatchery or create your own with mason jars and an air pump. Newly hatched brine shrimp are available from aquarium suppliers but may already be too big for angelfish fry. It is also more cost effective to hatch brine shrimp eggs yourself.

    • 2

      Siphon up the baby brine shrimp with the turkey baster or an eyedropper each day. Rinse the shrimp in fresh, dechlorinated water through a sieve before feeding to the angelfish fry. The fry start eating once they are free swimming, which is a few days after they hatch. Feed the fry as many brine shrimp as they can consume. Frequent meals are essential for fish this tiny, so feed them at least 3 times a day.

    • 3

      Start introducing very finely crumbled flake food to the diet once the fish are three weeks old. Foods specifically for angelfish fry are available, or crumble adult angelfish flakes between your fingers. At this point, you can also introduce larger live or frozen food; for example, older brine shrimp, black worms and daphnia (waterfleas). Gradually transition the fish to an adult diet over the next month.