Feeding Minnows

[GrumpyOldCrappie]

Wondering what your opinions are when it comes to keeping crappie minnows around

for lengthy periods of time (like 2-4 weeks)

Do minnows need to feed and if so, what do you feed them, how often, etc.

I keep minnows in a 5 gallon pail with a bubbler in it and change the water every 2-3 days... beats going to the bait shop all the time.

Thanks for your input.

[Sherpa]

I just give mine goldfish food. Seems to work just fine.

[eyebjim]

I have a feeder tank for my aquarium. I feed the minnows goldfish flakes. They eat them but they don't seem to live any longer weather I feed them or not.

[Tom7227]

I have had good luck with minnows in an aquarium. They need to have a chance to learn to eat the stuff and I've had them last for quite a while - that is until the crappies get hungry. Flake fish food works for me.

[MN BassFisher]

If the water temp is cold enough they don't really need to feed. I have 12-15 big sucker minnows and a few dozen crappie minnows in my garage and just change the water every few days (and add a bit of chlorine remover) and they've been lively for over a week. Shiner's don't seem to keep well for me. I added some crappie minnows to my aquarium recently and I'll feed them, they will eat a lot but over time they will eventually die off. Seems they don't live too long no matter how well you pamper them.

[OnAFly]

Don't feed them. They will carp in the water and release toxins which will kill them sooner.

I've kept crappie minnows for 6 weeks without doing anything but changing the water every week. Keep them cold, don't let them freeze, catch a bunch of fish