How to Save a Baby Fish

Baby fish, also known as fry, are small. Larger fish, including the mother, often eat them. If your fish have babies, which is common if you have livebearers, such as mollies, platys, swordtails or guppies, protecting them from harm becomes a challenge. You must remove the babies from the tank to protect them and ensure the new environment is right for them. Luckily, saving baby fish requires little time and energy, and as a result, you watch the baby grow into a full grown, healthy fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Isolation tank
  • Sand
  • Plastic fish tank plants
  • Aquarium hose
  • Fish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up an isolation tank for the babies. Since fry are small, a one or two gallon tank is appropriate. Transfer water from the original tank into the smaller tank. Gravel is not necessary. Fry tend to hide in gravel and it makes them harder to see. If you want substrate, use sand. Since set ups vary based on the type of fish you have, follow the same set up techniques used in the original tank.

    • 2

      Place one or two plastic plants in the aquarium. Do not anchor them in the bottom. Instead, float them on the top of the water. This gives the babies a place to go to feel safe.

    • 3

      Catch the babies from the main tank and transfer them to the isolation tank. Use either a piece of aquarium hose as a siphon or turkey baster. Gently suction the babies into the tubing or turkey baster and transfer them to the isolation tank. Release the suction on the tubing or squeeze the turkey baster to release the fry into the new tank.

    • 4

      Feed the babies daily. Depending on the number of babies, use one to two flakes of your regular fish food. Crumble it up into tiny pieces by rolling it between your finger and thumb.

    • 5

      Keep the babies in the isolation tank until they are large enough that other fish will not eat them.