The short answer
If you’ve found baby fish in your tank, you have three practical options: protect and raise them, let nature take its course in the community tank, or rehome the ones that grow up. Which you choose depends on how many you want and how much space you have. With livebearers especially, doing nothing is a legitimate choice — a community tank naturally keeps numbers in check.
First, keep them safe
Newborn fry are eaten fast, including by their own parents. If you want to raise some:
- Move the fry to a breeding box inside the tank, or to a separate grow-out tank.
- Add dense cover — floating plants and moss let fry hide where adult mouths can’t reach.
- Cover the filter intake with a sponge so tiny fry aren’t sucked in.
See how do I protect baby shrimp for the invertebrate version, and do I need a breeding tank.
Feed them for growth
Fry need tiny, frequent meals — powdered fry food, crushed flake and baby brine shrimp — two or three times a day, with clean water to match. Good early feeding gives faster growth and better colour. See what do I feed baby fish, how do I raise fish fry, and our best fish food picks.
When they’ve grown
Once fry reach a decent size, decide what to keep and rehome the rest. Local fish shops often take healthy home-bred fish, and fellow hobbyists are usually glad of them. Keeping a manageable number also protects your tank from becoming overstocked — see how do I know if my aquarium is overstocked. For more space, browse aquariums.