How Can I Protect My Baby Fish?

The greatest danger to a baby fish in an aquarium is often its own parents. Many fish are cannibalistic, and have no restraints against making a meal out of their own offspring. The best way of raising baby fish is to separate them from the adults in a separate breeding tank, but that may not always be possible. You can protect your baby fish by separating them from the mother and providing plenty of places for the babies to hide.

Things You'll Need

  • Breeding box or net cage
  • Fish net
  • Java moss
  • Fake plants
  • Breeding mats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hang a breeding box or net cage on the side of your aquarium for live bearers like guppies, mollies and platys.

    • 2

      Net the female once she is ready to have her babies. You can tell she is ready to give birth when you can see a large black spot on her sides.

    • 3

      Place the female in the breeding cage. When she releases the babies, they will fall through the slots at the bottom of the cage, where the female will not be able to reach them.

    • 4

      Remove the female once she is finished giving birth, and place her back in the aquarium. The babies can stay in the net cage for a few days while they live off their yolk sacks.

    • 5

      Add hiding spots in the aquarium where the baby fish can take shelter. Balls of Java moss, bushy fake plants, and special breeding mats are ideal places for baby fish to hide.