How Do You Raise A Betta Fry

Sorry, this is kind of long.
Yesterday, I went to PetCo to buy some new supplies for a new tank when I happened to look at the bettas they had for sale. I noticed something I hadn't seen before, betta fry for sale. I have been curious about breeding bettas in the past, but decided against it for various reasons, but until then I hadn't considered buying a betta fry. Now I am kind of curious about the whole thing but wanted more information before I do anything or get my hopes up.

What are the basics for their care?
Is it smart to buy them that young from a pet store, should I look elsewhere?
Is a five gallon with a heater and a sponge filter enough for a setup?
Would I need special equipment?
What do you feed them?

I also have a major concern. I am a college student, so I move around a bit between home and school for various breaks and I usually take my adult bettas with me if I am going to be gone longer than three days. I was planning to buy the baby betta in the next week or so and my biggest break in school where I have to take my fish home is in December. Would it be okay to move by then?

 

Sorry, this is kind of long.
Yesterday, I went to PetCo to buy some new supplies for a new tank when I happened to look at the bettas they had for sale. I noticed something I hadn't seen before, betta fry for sale. I have been curious about breeding bettas in the past, but decided against it for various reasons, but until then I hadn't considered buying a betta fry. Now I am kind of curious about the whole thing but wanted more information before I do anything or get my hopes up.

What are the basics for their care?
Is it smart to buy them that young from a pet store, should I look elsewhere?
Is a five gallon with a heater and a sponge filter enough for a setup?
Would I need special equipment?
What do you feed them?

I also have a major concern. I am a college student, so I move around a bit between home and school for various breaks and I usually take my adult bettas with me if I am going to be gone longer than three days. I was planning to buy the baby betta in the next week or so and my biggest break in school where I have to take my fish home is in December. Would it be okay to move by then?

You would need have a cycled tank to put them first unless you want to be doing water changes every other day. It depends on how old the fry are. What size are these baby fish they're selling now??

 

Their care isn't that much different than from an adult betta. The temperature range for bettas is 78-82 degrees, for a baby betta I would keep them on the warmer side of that range. They would also have to be fed more often than an adult betta daily.

If you were to buy them that young it's always risky. They are more sensitive to changes and have a weakened immune system from being kept in poor conditions, so there's the possibility of them dying.

A five gallon that's heated and has a sponge filter would be the minimum required for a setup, add some decorations so it has some shelter to hide in. You don't need any other special equipment unless you want to raise live foods.

They can basically eat anything a regular adult can, just try to feed a variety of food such as crushed pellets, crushed flakes, frozen foods, some freeze dried foods, and optional live foods if you can get it.

If you decide to get a betta juvenile, it should have grown quite a bit before you have to move so it should be fine to move by then.

 

LagerthaM I’ve merged your two identical threads. Kindly only create one thread per topic going forward so everyone can keep track of the conversation more easily.

 

You would need have a cycled tank to put them first unless you want to be doing water changes every other day. It depends on how old the fry are. What size are these baby fish they're selling now??

The ones I saw were about half and inch long and I didn't think to ask their age. they did have color though. I have a spare tank that is almost cycled and I think will be ready by then. I usually keep a spare tank cycled in case of emergencies or to experiment with.

 

The ones I saw were about half and inch long and I didn't think to ask their age. they did have color though. I have a spare tank that is almost cycled and I think will be ready by then. I usually keep a spare tank cycled in case of emergencies or to experiment with.

That's really tiny! Are they labeled Male or Female at that age? The only difference in care then would be the size of the food and probably more protein (bug, worm, shrimp, fish protein).Crush pellets, mash frozen foods and feed 3 or 4 times a day. Keep us posted on the babys progress please!

 

Are you sure it wasn't just a female betta? I know my pet stores get females in and they're often super small. One of my crowntail females is still a shrimp months later!

 

That's really tiny! Are they labeled Male or Female at that age? The only difference in care then would be the size of the food and probably more protein (bug, worm, shrimp, fish protein).Crush pellets, mash frozen foods and feed 3 or 4 times a day. Keep us posted on the babys progress please!

They have ones listed under both genders. And if I go ahead with it I totally will!

 

Are you sure it wasn't just a female betta? I know my pet stores get females in and they're often super small. One of my crowntail females is still a shrimp months later!

I am pretty sure they were babies. They look like fry and are way smaller than even what could be considered a small adult.

 

I have seen very small at my Petco stores. I have not had much luck with the really really tiny ones. It probably depends how long they have been on the shelf and genetics. I always try to chose the bigger ones that I find. The last one I got was pretty small....shes grown a little but not much. She eats good but I don't know if she will make it. On the other hand, I have babies I bought over a year ago who are now full grown and doing well. I start them on hikarI first bites, flakes, and some frozen baby brine. My most recent baby girl eats bug bites now. The babies require just a little bit more TLC than older fish.

 

I have seen very small at my Petco stores. I have not had much luck with the really really tiny ones. It probably depends how long they have been on the shelf and genetics. I always try to chose the bigger ones that I find. The last one I got was pretty small....shes grown a little but not much. She eats good but I don't know if she will make it. On the other hand, I have babies I bought over a year ago who are now full grown and doing well. I start them on hikarI first bites, flakes, and some frozen baby brine. My most recent baby girl eats bug bites now. The babies require just a little bit more TLC than older fish.

Awesome! Thank you for all the great info!