Question: How To Keep Minnows Alive

[Suddsy]

Anyone have a suggestion on how to keep my minnows alive after a day of fishing? Aside from the problem of having to drive so far to get minows (Kemptville to Manotick) they are expensive enough that it would be nice to keep them for my next fishing trip. I have an oxygen pump but the minows are still dying after a couple of days.

[Markus]

I bought a big plastic tub at walmart and I have a pump in it circulating water. It's in my unheated basement so the water stays nice and cold.

Try not to use clorine water and try to keep it cold.

[JP]

I change the water in the bucket with filtered water and it works for me. If one dies, they will all die, so remove dead ones quick.
Cheers.
JP

[bucketmouth]

I've been having great luck keeping them alive in just a 5 gallon bucket filled half way with river water. I store them in my unheated garage and even if a layer of ice forms on top they still seem to survive. Had two dozen for over a week and only a couple died. You scoop 'em out quickly and you won't harm the rest. I don't aerate mine but I suspect they'd live even longer with air circulation and very little ice would form in the bucket.

I find sucker minnows the hardiest by far but have had great success keeping emerald and golden shiners as well.

bucket

[Suddsy]

Good suggestions guys! It sounds like I have not been keeping them in enough water. I have been afraid to move them into a bigger bucket with more water in case the shock of the temperature change or different water type would kill them.

[teppy]

If it stays dark than there metabolism slows down as well. so cold and dark is best,change water when it gets cloudy. Aerate is good and you can even feed them little bread crumbs. you can always stir the bucket and as long as you are making bubbles you are aerateing them.
Teppy

[orrsey]

KEEP THEM ICE COLD!

[bts]

I keep them in the beer fridge in my unheated garage. I have them in a 5 gallon pail 3/4 full. Change the water every few days and they last a long time.

[Sluggo]

I use an old cooler. The key as I see it is lots of water, no light and almost freezing temperatures. Minnows will last at least a week before I need to change the water.

[Suddsy]

I appreciate all of the suggestions. sounds like lots of water, keep it real cold and preferably aerated and keep it in the dark. Teppy mentioned adding some breadcrumb for food. Anybody else feeding the minnows?

[Kingmann]

I feed them Tropical fish food when storing them for long periods, just a pinch though. Too much food and you will be changing the water a lot more frequently.
All above suggestions are A1.
JasonM

[Caseys Dream]

Here is my secret to keeping minnows alive, one I got from my father. Take the strainer part of the bucket with the minnows still inside and drop into your sump pump hole. The sump always refreshes itself with clean, aerated water from your weepers around the house, keeping the water changed over and clean and cool. We even feed them inside the bucket, all the wastes go out with the sump pump.

We've keptthem for months, even escapaees swim for months and avoid the pump when it kicks on. Beleieve me, it works.

CD

[BASSSTALKER]

Casey that is hilarious

[muskymuskymusky]

I put them in the bath tub over night with a little water dripping. For more than a night i have never tried and would be way to much water.