Raising healthy betta fry requires providing them with the right foods at the right times.
As they grow and develop, their nutritional needs change.
For the first 1-2 days after hatching, betta fry survives off the egg yolk they absorbed as embryos. After this nutrition is used up, they must start eating external food.
Some good first foods for betta fry include:
- Crushed betta pellets or flakes
- Powdered fry food
- Hard-boiled egg yolk
- Infusoria (microorganisms that grow in tanks)
- Vinegar eels
- Newly hatched brine shrimp
- Microworms
- Daphnia
Betta fry have tiny mouths and can only eat very small foods initially.
Their foods should be crushed into a fine powder or be live foods small enough for them to consume.
When to Start Feeding Betta Fry?
Feeding should begin as soon as the yolk sac is fully absorbed, typically 24-48 hours after hatching.
Do not start too early, as overfeeding fry when the yolk sac is still present can foul the water and lead to death.
Once feeding begins, the fry should be fed 3-5 small meals per day. Spread feeds out to ensure there is always some food available.
Betta Fry Feeding Schedule
Here is a general schedule for feeding betta fry that you can follow:
Days 1-7: Feed newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii, microworms, infusoria, egg yolk, or powdered fry foods 3-5 times daily.
Days 7-14: In addition to the foods above, can introduce minced bloodworms, daphnia, and small live foods like vinegar eels.
2-4 Weeks: Can begin feeding crushed pellets or flakes soaked in water, as well as larger live foods.
1-2 Months: Fry should be able to accept normal pellet foods, frozen and freeze-dried foods, and larger live foods. Feed 2-3 times daily.
2+ Months: Vary diet by offering pellets, frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia, as well as occasional live foods. Feed 1-2 times daily.
Betta Fry Food Options

Here are some of the best foods to offer betta fry:
Egg yolk – Hard-boiled, mashed egg yolks provide protein and nutrients. Mix a small amount into clean tank water.
Powdered fry food – Specially formulated powders are easy for fry to eat. Brands like Hikari First Bites are excellent starter foods.
Infusoria – This microscopic growth that occurs in tanks is the first “natural” food many fry eat.
Microworms – Tiny live worms are perfect first foods. They can be cultured at home.
Vinegar eels – These tiny nematodes are easy to culture and ideal for young fry.
Newly hatched brine shrimp – Small, nutrient-rich live prey for fry. Hatch from eggs.
Daphnia – “Water fleas” provide nutrients and live prey for growing fry.
Bloodworms – Nutritious frozen or freeze-dried option once fry are larger.
Crushed pellets/flakes – Soak high-quality pellets or flakes in tank water, then crush them into a powder.
Starting with the right live foods and transitioning to high-quality prepared foods can raise healthy, robust betta fry.
Monitor growth and increase feeding amounts and frequencies as needed.
Common Hobbist Questions Answered
When to Start Feeding Betta Fry?
When to feed betta fry after hatching?
Feeding should begin about 24-48 hours after the fry hatch once their yolk sac is fully absorbed. Do not start feeding while the yolk sac remains, as overfeeding can foul the tank. Look for an indented belly as a sign they need their first meal.
How many days to feed betta fry?
Betta fry requires daily feedings 3-5 times daily, starting 24-48 hours after hatching. They eat only tiny amounts at each feeding. Continue this frequent feeding schedule for at least the first 2-4 weeks of life while the fry are still very small.
When should I feed betta fry?
You should begin feeding betta fry 24-48 hours after they hatch once the yolk sac is fully absorbed. Look for an indented belly as a sign to start feeding. Offer small meals 3-5 times per day, spacing the feedings over the day.
How Much and How Often to Feed Betta Fry?
How many times should I feed betta fry?
You should feed betta fry 3-5 small meals daily, beginning 24-48 hours after hatching and continuing as they grow. You may reduce frequencies to 2-3 daily feedings as fry grows.
How to feed betta fry?
Feed betta fry 3-5 small meals daily, spaced throughout the day. Target foods small enough for fry to fit into their mouths and crush larger items. Feed only as much as fry can consume in a few minutes, removing any excess. Increase amounts as fry grow.
Best First Food for Betta Fry
Is egg yolk good for betta fry?
Yes, egg yolk is highly nutritious for betta fry in their first week after hatching. It provides protein and nutrients needed for growth and development. Egg yolk is easy for the tiny fry to eat and digest. It makes an excellent first food before transitioning to live foods.
How to feed egg yolk to betta fry?

Egg yolk makes an ideal first food for betta fry. To prepare:
- Hard boil an egg and separate the yolk
- Mash the yolk thoroughly into a paste using a fork
- Add a very small amount of the mashed yolk into the fry tank
- Remove any uneaten yolk after an hour or so
Egg yolk provides crucial nutrients in the first week after the fry has absorbed their yolk sac.
Egg yolk alternative for betta fry
Some alternatives to egg yolk as a first food include:
- Liquifry for Egglayers powdered fry food
- Hard-boiled egg white, mashed into a paste
- Decapsulated brine shrimp eggs
- Microworms
- Crushed pellets/flakes soaked in water
These alternatives can provide nutrition if egg yolk is unavailable, though egg yolk is preferable.
Foods for Growing Betta Fry
Food for 1 day-old betta fry
For 1-day-old betta fry, the best foods are:
- Egg yolk
- Liquifry or other powdered fry food
- Infusoria and microorganisms already present in the tank
- Decapsulated brine shrimp eggs
At one day old, the fry are still tiny and can only eat the smallest foods like liquid fry foods or egg yolk.
Food for 1 week-old betta fry
Good foods for 1-week-old betta fry include:
- Newly hatched baby brine shrimp
- Microworms
- Crushed powdered fry foods
- Infusoria
- Egg yolk
- Vinegar eels
After one week, fry can accept tiny live foods like brine shrimp and microworms along with crushed preparations and egg yolk.
What to feed betta fry week by week?
Here are the optimal betta fry foods week by week:
Week 1: Newly hatched brine shrimp, microworms, infusoria, egg yolk
Week 2: Above plus crushed flakes/pellets, introduce chopped bloodworms and daphnia
Week 3: Small live foods, crushed pellets/flakes, chopped bloodworms/daphnia
Week 4: Can begin offering finely crushed standard pellets, frozen foods
Week 6-8: Larger crushed pellets, frozen and freeze-dried foods, larger live foods
Slowly transition their diet from live foods to prepared betta diets.
Their diet should be transitioned from smaller to larger foods as they grow.
Food for 1-month-old betta fry
At one month old, betta fry can eat:
- Larger live foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, and mosquito larvae
- Finely crushed flakes and pellets
- Chopped bloodworms and tubifex worms
- Larger microworms and vinegar eels
General Feeding of Betta Fry
Should I feed my betta fry?
Yes, it is absolutely essential to properly feed your betta fry, starting 24-48 hours after they hatch and absorb their yolk sacs. The fry will not survive past a few days without an external food source. Feed live foods first, then small crushed items like egg yolk, pellets, and flakes. Slowly increase amounts as the fry grows.
What can I feed betta fry?
Good betta fry foods include newly hatched brine shrimp, microworms, infusoria, crushed pellets/flakes, chopped bloodworms/daphnia, egg yolk, vinegar eels, and mosquito larvae. Start with small live foods, then transition to crushed commercial diets.
Best food for betta fry
The best all-around foods to feed betta fry are:
- Newly hatched brine shrimp
- Small microworms
- Crushed and soaked quality pellets or flakes
- Chopped blackworms and bloodworms
- Daphnia and mosquito larvae
- Egg yolk (for first week)
Start with the smallest live foods, then gradually introduce larger varieties and crushed commercial diets as the fry grows.
Do betta fry eat algae?

No, betta fry do not directly consume algae as a food source. While algae may grow in their tank, fry needs proper live foods and crushed fry foods to survive. Relying on naturally occurring algae is not enough nutrition.
Can betta fry eat crushed pellets?
Yes, older betta fry around 2-4 weeks old can be fed crushed-up commercial betta pellets. To prepare:
- Select a high-quality pellet formula
- Soak pellets in tank water until soft
- Crush pellets into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle
- Sprinkle small amounts of powder for fry to eat
Soaked, crushed pellets provide nutrients once fry are large enough to consume them.
Can betta fry eat flakes?
Betta fry can begin eating crushed flakes at around 2-4 weeks old. To prepare:
- Select a high quality betta flake formula
- Soak flakes in tank water until soft
- Crush into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or between your fingers
- Sprinkle small amounts and let fry eat
Soaked, crushed flakes are an excellent way to supplement fry nutrition once they are large enough to eat them.
Can betta fry eat bloodworms?
Betta fry can eat bloodworms once they are 2-4 weeks old. Before that, bloodworms are too large for tiny fry to consume. Good options include:
- Frozen bloodworms thawed and cut into tiny pieces
- Freeze-dried bloodworms hydrated in tank water and crushed into powder
- Live bloodworms are cultured at home and fed when small
Bloodworms provide protein and nutrients for growing betta fry.
Can betta fry eat brine shrimp?

Yes, newly hatched baby brine shrimp make an ideal first food for betta fry. To prepare:
- Hatch brine shrimp eggs and harvest shrimp within 24 hours
- Rinse shrimp thoroughly in tank water
- Feed fry several times per day soon after hatching
Even tiny betta fry can consume newly hatched brine shrimp to start growing. Introduce brine shrimp gradually to prevent fouling the water.
Can betta fry eat brine shrimp eggs?
No, betta fry cannot directly consume brine shrimp eggs. The eggs must be hatched into tiny nauplii shrimp for the fry to eat. Fry can begin eating newly hatched baby brine shrimp within a day or two of hatching eggs.
Can betta fry eat Hikari First Bites?
Yes, Hikari First Bites is an excellent commercial powdered food designed specifically for feeding young fish like betta fry. Its fine texture makes it easy for fry to eat even immediately after their yolk sac is absorbed. Follow package directions for correct feeding amounts.
Will betta fry eat frozen brine shrimp?
Yes, once betta fry reaches 2-4 weeks old, they can begin eating finely chopped frozen brine shrimp. To prepare:
- Thaw frozen brine shrimp per package instructions
- Rinse thoroughly in tank water
- Chop into tiny pieces appropriate for fry
- Feed several times per day along with other foods
Frozen brine shrimp provide nutrients and protein for supplemental feeding as fry grows.
Can betta fry eat daphnia?
Yes, live daphnia (water fleas) make great food for betta fry once they reach about 2 weeks old. Daphnia provide nutrients and proteins for growth and development. Introduce daphnia slowly at first to prevent fouling the tank.
Can betta fry eat mosquito larvae?
Yes, small mosquito larvae can be fed to betta fry once they reach 2-4 weeks old. Prior to that, the larvae are too large for tiny fry mouths. To prepare:
- Rinse any collected mosquito larvae thoroughly
- Crush larger larvae into appropriate bite sizes
- Feed small amounts 1-2 times per day
Mosquito larvae provide nutrients and proteins for growth. But ensure larvae are from pesticide-free sources before feeding to fry.
Will betta fry eat detritus worms?
Yes, betta fry will consume small detritus worms and other naturally occurring microfauna in their tank. However, these should not be relied on as a sole food source. Fry still requires proper live foods, egg yolk, and crushed fry foods for adequate nutrition. Detritus worms can provide supplemental nutrition.
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