Ol' Lund Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 Hello-I would like a way to keep minnows alive without having to run to the bait shop every time i want to fish. It is nearly 60 miles round trip, for me to get to a bait shop. What are some ways i could go about doing this? Could i get a little aquarium, with an aerator or something. What would I have to feed the minnows? What are some other things i could do?Thanks for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_jman Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 I put some water in a small bucket and I bought a small bubbler for a couple of bucks at a pet store. Change the water every day and your minnows will last well over a week. Not sure what they eat... you could ask a bait store maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrontenacPike Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 I bought a cheap bubbler for an aquarium at the local pet store. When I get home I simply drop the bubbler into my minnow bucket and plug it in. Don't worry about feeding them, they will live forever with just a good supply of Oxygen. While I'm out fishing I have a frabil bucket clip bubbler. I rarely have dead bait. Make sure you change the water out once it starts getting murky. One key tip, make sure you don't shock your minnows by draining outside temperature water and then refilling with room temperature tap water...they will all go belly up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggs222 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Can you use tap water? I always thought that the chlorine, etc would kill them? I'm hooked up to city water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loos15 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 go to a pet store and get some de-chlorinator, or you can leave tap water sitting out for a few days and let the chlorine evap. I just use a 5 gallon bucket, and change the water every 2-3 days. I lose some minnows along the way , but always enough left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croixflats Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 With chlorinated water you just need to have sit out for a day and the chlorine, like loose said, will dissapate and with city water you will have cavity free minnows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muc33 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I have cut down a 30 gallon plastic barrel to about 18 inches tall and fill that with an aquarium water bubbler. My biggest tip would be to make sure you don't put it in too warm of a place. If you have a heated garage that stays around 45 or so, that is perfect. I just make sure to bring a liter pop bottle with me fishing once a week and give them about 5 gallons of fresh stuff. I just fill a bucket before I go home from a fishin hole. Kinda a pain in the butt, but it is better than driving all the way to the bait shop every fishing outing! I also got a bucket of pea rock for the bottom to filter out the waste. After season, I just wash them out good on a screen and save them for next year! I buy my bait by the gallon now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggs222 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I have a non-heated/non-insulated garage. I was thinking of just using a 5 gallon bucket and a bubbler. Do you think this would keep them from freezing or would I also need a aquarium heater?Also another understanding that I have is that you shouldn't keep fatheads along with other minnows. I've heard they're the bullies out of the bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geppy Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 my friend changed the water and broke crackers into a 5 gallon bucket and kept some minnow alive for a couple weeks until he was out of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icefishing21 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 i just change the water every night and i can keep a scoop of crappie/fat head minows alive for about a month until there gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neiko Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 My understanding was it was the Shiners that didn't get along with other minnows. They are too sensitive I am thinking to the other minnows waste? Someone correct me if I am wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minneman Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 If your fishing in a perm shack there is a submersible minnow/bait container made, it's yellow plastic with a screw off lid and a place to tie a cord to. it can be found at most bait shops. auger a hole out side your shack opposite a hole inside. tie a 6-8' pc of twine or cord to the outside of the house and the container and let the container down the hole out side. now when you return to the shack drill your holes as usual inside, grab the cord with a length of heavy wire bent to grab it made by you, keep the container and line in the house with you while your fishing. when done fishing put the minnows back in the container and sink it. they'll be fine till you return again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandmannd Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I got a 20 gallon tank off of Craig's List for about $15 bucks that came with a light, filter and bublers. Keeps them alive for a long time. Don't have to change the water very ofte, I do a 20% water change once a week and that pretty much covers it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrontenacPike Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I have a non-heated/non-insulated garage. I was thinking of just using a 5 gallon bucket and a bubbler. Do you think this would keep them from freezing or would I also need a aquarium heater?Also another understanding that I have is that you shouldn't keep fatheads along with other minnows. I've heard they're the bullies out of the bunch.I have a very understanding girlfriend who lets me keep em in the foyer...basements work well too. Ohh yeah I have well water, so I don't know about city water. I also use a 5 gallon bucket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harleyharry Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I have a large Coleman cooler that I put in the garage. The garage is unheated. I use a small bubbler for an air supply. I kept minnows all winter last year. I change the water every third day. The cooler holds fifteen gallons of water. To solve the problem of water temp difference, I fill the buckets, set them in the garage for half a day, then change the water. Never fed them. Feed in the water just contaminates the water. My first purchase of minnows was the last week of December of 07. I had one large sucker minnow that lasted until I was done with the bait on the 2nd day of April. Really hated feeding that sucker to the cat.Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb S Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Keeping it simple:1) keep the water as cold as possible without freezing2) change the water often (daily)3) be sure the minnows are not crowded, I have a small bucket I take out on the lake but dump them into a 5 gallon bucket during the week as I usually only get out on the weekends. My current minnows are 2 weeks old and I loose 2-3/day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jethro80 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I hope leaving the city water out for a few days will work.There are alot of lives at atake:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb S Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I use city water and do not let it sit out before using. Minnows are 2 weeks old and counting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KTapper Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Everytime I have used city water they def. die off fasterI think I may but a fish tank and start keeping them by the dozens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broman Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I am using 5 gallon bucket with a cheap bubbler from a thrift store with a stone on the end. The bucket is in my basement and I have it near my basements fresh air intake tube (I think they were put in for radon or something). It keeps it nice and cold. I even get a little bit of ice if it's too close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vexi Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I keep them in a five gallon bucket also. I try to keep them as cold as possible without freezing and keep the water fresh. stayaway from tap water, lake water is the best but I have good luck with hard well water. I don't use a bubbler but it would'nt hurt. I can keep minnows alive from when I buy them till there all used up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FasterThanYou23 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I just change the water and they last me another weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broman Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I just read that using a water filter (on your fridge, pitcher, or else wise) will remove chlorine also. I'm going to give it a shot tonight as the water in my bucket is getting a little dirty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kr8r.tom Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 put them in styrofoam bucket and put that bucket in a 5gal pail to protect the styrofoam.(i don't know where i got it but my styrofoam bucket was made to fit in a 5gal pail) gonna sound strange but the styrofoam seems to breathe,no need for a bubbler they don't add o2 as they claim , unless you use a diffuser to get the bubbles micro size, and enough minnows in your bucket will keep water from freezing anyway. if you think they need o2 put some ice or snow in the bucket, when that melts it will let off oxygen into the water and always keep the water cold and change it at the lake with lake water you'll keep fatheads forever, shiners thats another story they die just looking at'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7outof10 Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 you need to keep them cold i tryed to keep some in the house last year and they died to warm for them ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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