Minnows

[fishtrap3]

I got a 5 gallon pail full of crappie minnows from a friend at work. (his boy is in the boy scouts and after there contest they where going to throw them, so he got them for me) What should i feed them...I am using a areator from my aquarium that i havent set up yet after my move to give them oxygen... Any help guys????

[Guest]

The best thing that you can do is keep them in a cool place, like a basement, or better yet a refridgerator. I keep my minnows alive for a long time by keeping them in the fridge, even with out an areator.

[Minnetonka]

Keep them as cold as possible. Just above freezing is best. change 1/2 the water every week. If you will keep them longer then a week or so. Throw a few pellets of dry dog food in for a food source. When you change the water, pour off the top half into another container and get rid of the bottom half with the excess food and waste. The ammonia that builds up from the waste will kill them. The last major problem to watch out for is a major change in tempature no more then a couple of degrees. Put the new water in another container next to where you keep the minnows so the water is the same temp.

[Guest]

Make sure you dont use tap water.

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[The Chemist]

I usually can keep minnows for the entire winter changing the water once or twice. I keep the in our cabin next to the basement door. We have well water so I use that, I don't feed them and do not use an aerator. One thing you must do though is pick out dead/lame minnows. Also I keep down the number in the bucket. Couple of dozen per 5 gallon bucket.

[The Chemist]

The ones that I wished I could keep alive are lake shiners. In the fall we can catch a ton of them but they die too fast unless you keep them in the lake.

[fishtrap3]

Thanks for the help guys....Fishtrap3

[jt24]

Shiners are the hardest to keep alive. I used to trap alot of minnows and creek chubs and if you did get a few shiners they didnt last real long. They dont take being kept in a cooler or minnow bucket very well and in the summer warm water does them in fast!

[Guest]

fishtrap,

the chemist is the closest yet, i would add the aireator if you have a bunch of minnows.

skip the dog food, there's too much garbage in it,(unless you want a shiney coat on you minnows)

there is another topic listed under "chlorinated Water" that has more lenghty info.

e-man

[Guest]

fishtrap,

that should have said minnetonka/chemist.

they both are correct

e-man

[WarrenA]

Keep them COLD 34 deg is perfect they won't move much aerate and filter the water with a charcoal filter I made one out of PVC pipe etc. do NOT feed them they will be fine I have had mine since Nov 1 are getting a little thin but are in good shapecheck them every other day and net out the dead ones as they spoil the water I have not yet this year changed the water in my tank aprox. 35 gals. as I have continous filter the water with a submersible pump little Giant (for a fountian) I have found that if I buy minnows that they die quicker than the ones I net myself. I started this year with about 1 doz. chubs and about 2 scoops of perch minnows and haven't purchased minnows yet this year. I have used this system now for about6 yaers and this year have had very little loss

[Ely Lake Expert]

Actually what I do in the winter is take a piece of pvt pipe with screw on end pieces and drill a bunch of hole in it up and down the sides. You put you minnows in there, then put a rope on one end and hang it approx. 2 feet under the ice and tie the other end to something in your icehouse. The minnows will stay alive all winter long.

Ely lake expert

[This message has been edited by Ely lake expert (edited 03-04-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Ely lake expert (edited 03-05-2002).]

[icemaster]

Fishtrap, you can use tap water but the chlorine has to be out! put the water in a bucket and let it sit for a day or two to let the chlorine diccipate. I've done this with my minnows in a 50 gallon tank all winter and they're alive and well. Put 1 or 2 pieces of dry dog food in ther a week along with the aerator and they should be fine

[swamptiger]

There is a unit called the "Minno-mizer" on the market. It sits on top of the water in your minnow bucket, and sprays a fine mist into the water - aereates & cools. Keep the minnows in a cool place & change the water once in a while, and they will keep for a long time -especially in the winter. This unit runs on 6 VDC and there is a converter available to run it on 12 VDC. I think the whole set-up is less than $30.

[Guest]

For regular tap water, you can also go to a pet store and buy drops that take the harmful chemicals out of the water. This allows you to use the water immediately.

Good Luck,
Rusty