Fry

Fry are young fish that have emerged from eggs (or alevins), absorbed all yolk reserves, and begun feeding exogenously. In salmonids, the first-feeding fry stage is a critical period: mortality is high, and correct timing of the first feeding event (when exogenous food must be available) determines recruitment success. In aquaculture, first feeding timing, feed particle size, and feed composition are carefully managed. Fry are used as the stocking unit for lake and reservoir management. The term is also used loosely for all small juvenile fish.