The composition of the ideal rearing feed for young fish is based on a variety of factors. The juvenile fish are growing and need important nutrients for their development. Essential vitamins and the biological trace element inositol are necessary to strengthen their immune system. With young fish it is very important that the food size fits their mouth size. It is better to have a food that is too small than one that is too large! The appropriate phosphate content of the food is essential for healthy bone formation. Not enough phosphate and calcium will lead to bone deformities.
Once the young fish are big enough, a supplement of live Artemia (brine shrimps) is ideal. JBL offers a complete programme for this = JBL Artemio.
A distinction is made between juveniles of egg-laying and viviparous species. The young fish of egg-laying species are much smaller after hatching and initially feed on infusoria (microorganisms) that they find in their environment. Many species then also accept liquid food (JBL PRONOVO BEL FLUID). Shortly afterwards they will accept fine powdered food (JBL PRONOVO BEL GRANO BABY or the powdered food from the first bag of JBL PRONOVO BEL FLAKES BABY). As soon as they have grown a little more, you can switch to the second bag of JBL PRONOVO BEL FLAKES BABY. If the parents are brooders (as with cichlids), a long pipette or a piece of hose helps to bring the food dissolved in water directly to the young fish. A little later you can change to the third bag. In this way the right food size is available for all sizes of young fish.
In viviparous or even mouth-breeding species the young fish are larger and immediately eat the food from the second bag of JBL PRONOVO BEL FLAKES BABY and live Artemia (JBL Artemio System).