Anyone have any luck keeping minnows through the season.I’m keeping mine in a plastic tank with a filter and an aireator and keep them in my basement somewhat sucessfully. What do you guys do that works. Good luck. stay safe.
36 to 40 degree garage. Small aireator and change water every 2 days. Same temp water from 5 gallon pail. You can use tap water just leave it for a day or two.
as a long time aquarium hobbyist…
cool is the key (slows metabolism, slows bacterial growth and increases oxygen carrying capacity of the water). and having your makeup water sit out for a day or two largely eliminates toxic chlorine (chloramines in some water supplies are more stubborn so using an aquarium chlorine/chloramine product may be helpful) and ensures that the temperature is the same (so as not to shock fish with a rapid temp change). an aerator or pump to provide circulation will help but not absolutely necessary if water is cool (gas exchange occurs anywhere air and water meet, be that in a bubble or at the surface and even a ripple helps). the enemy is water pollution. and the solution to pollution is dilution. the more water volume the better.
if you choose to keep inside more frequent water changes and a filtration system would be in order. lest anyone was thinking about doing it-feeding minnows (like you would an aquarium fish) is only going to worsen the pollution issue. and it takes longer than you would think for them to starve. if you have minnows starving you should be thinking about ways to get out fishing more, not scheming about how to keep them alive longer;)
I’m going to try this for the first time this year. The plan is a foam bucket in the garage with an aerator. I’m just torn on what aerator to get. Also those that do this, do you keep them in the summer too?
I’m going to try this for the first time this year. The plan is a foam bucket in the garage with an aerator. I’m just torn on what aerator to get. Also those that do this, do you keep them in the summer too?
Keeping them cool is key. Tough to do in summer but maybe find a cool corner in the basement in a metal container. Just remember to take out the dead ones out. I take them and freeze them for later use. I rarely change the water unless it has been over a week. Usually throw some snow in the bucket. You can easily keep them alive for months if conditions are right
Thanks twins guy that’s the perfect solution getting out more often . but seriously I’m thinking temp is my prob my basement is heated runs about 64 all winter I’m going to figure out another place to store them thanks again.Dan
I have one of those big heated dog water bowls I picked up at a rummage sale and I set my minnow bucket in that with a aerator and throw a insulated jacket on top of that in an unheated garage. Keeps them at a good temp.
The real struggle is how am I supposed to keep minnows when I’m living in a college dorm now?!
So I bought a Flambeau Deluxe 12v/110v aerator to keep minnows in a bucket in the garage as discussed. I’m extremely disappointed with how loud the aerator is. I was hoping it would work well with all of the options for power. I was expecting it to be more like a quiet hum that you hear from an aquarium tank but it sounds like a little air compressor chugging along. Anyone else have one of these? Are they all this bad or did I get a bad one? How often does an aerator need to run? Can i put it on a timer and run it a couple hours a day or does it need to run all the time?
I have one of those big heated dog water bowls I picked up at a rummage sale and I set my minnow bucket in that with a aerator and throw a insulated jacket on top of that in an unheated garage. Keeps them at a good temp.
That’s a good idea! I might have to try that. I’ve been struggling to keep my minnows from freezing out in the garage.
This is what we use. Quiet and simple. Put the bait in a insulated thank in the heated garage at about 50 degrees and it works fine.
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Does anybody keep them alive for a while in the Frabill aerated cooler? I’ve got one of those, but never tried keeping them for too long.
The real struggle is how am I supposed to keep minnows when I’m living in a college dorm now?!
I struggled with that as well. Gotta keep the water cold. Add snow every day, or some ice, or keep them in the fridge if you can squeeze them in there between all your cans of bee….soda.
There’s plenty of good info above… (cool, clean water)
The best/cheapest aerators for at home use, I have found are in the pet section. Pick up any old fish tank aerator and you’ll be set. They are usually around $7-8.
Changing water every 2 days is complete overkill IMO. Maybe nice to do every week or two, but as long as you dont let the water freeze those little guys will be swimming until the open water season opener.
This is only true if you are talking about hardy minnows like, fatheads. Shiners are much more feeble and require more attention as others have stated. A blanket statement like yours above really doesn’t do anyone any good.
have an insulated non heated garage change water 2-4 days and take dead ones out. aerator wise had one but it seemed like one or two would die and the aerator would make a foamy death mess. could’ve been bad luck. I like fishing with shiners but generally get just what I can use at moment they almost die on the way to the lake. the suckers sure are some tough dudes.
for keeping in the dorm room best pack some snow and change water often without jumping temp.
like the sounds of the pet store aerator. always thought minnow bucket ones were too powerful
anyone ever take an old camping cooler fill out full in garage and take out minnows into bucket as needed would think large amount of water would help.
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