Depending on the preference of the individual operator, fry are usually stocked to ponds after having been fed fry feeds in the hatchery a few days. At this stage, the fry are still small and are subject to predation and starvation.
Predation can be by other fish or by some adult and larval forms of insects.
Critical at this time is the presence of a high-quality food source of proper size. Food sources can be natural, such as zooplankton, or artificial, such as commercially prepared fry feeds. Zooplankton are small, microscopic-sized aquatic animals that feed on phytoplankton and other organic matter. Zooplankton are high in protein and are the primary food source for larval fish in nature. The following steps are suggested to maximize fry survival.