im going fishing tomorrow and we never end up using all of the minnows we use for bait so how big of a tank would these need? i wanna keep a couple with my crayfish.
bait minnows
- Thread starter allaboutfish
- Start date
How big are the minnows? Crappie size? Bigger? I would just use a general rule of thumb of 1 gal per fish since your prolly gonna be using them later for bait
theyre the little bitty silver ones you get at the bait shop, and i wouldnt be using them as bait. just something that my crayfish can eat if he wants.
Im assuming that there were different sizes at the bait shop. The ones around here usually have three sizes. The smallest are crappie minnows, usually somewhere in the 2" range. Anything bigger is typically considered bass minnows. I would watch them closely. Bait fish are on the same level as feeders. So there isnt much in the way of care taking. Most bait shops use some type of 'bait saver' solution to keep the minnows from dying quickly. Not quite sure what it does but it looks like miracle grow and turns the water blue. So just be warned they have been dosed up with chemicals. I wouldnt worry too much just keep an eye out for anything unusual.
hmmm that blue stuff is kind of worrying me. i didnt even think of that stuff. i definently wouldnt want my 20 dollar cray to die bc i gave him some minnows.
im pretty sure they are green shiner minnows. i currently have 7. will 7 be ok in a 29 with a cray? if not how many should i keep? ill have an aquaclear 70 on the tank.
Ive never kept minnows but I would assume that 7 in a 29 should suffice. Itll no doubt be a better home that where they were at. If it really worries you get a 5gal bucket, any home improvement store has them. throw an air stone in there with some water from the tank you plan on putting them in. watch them for a week or two to a month. If their still alive and look good throw em in the tank. Assuming you have an air pump and a little air line tube it shouldnt cost more than 10 bucks for the bucket, air stone and maybe a splitter if your running the pump already in your 29. Or you can wing it and throw em in and cross your fingers
The blue stuff is probably a Methylene Blue based solution. I don't think inverts are subject to the same sorts of diseases that other fish are, but I would definitely get a separate net to use for this tank...bait fish are just as "dirty" as feeders, for sure.
i couldnt wash the net in really hot water or in jungle's clear water which has something in it that kills stuff? or a bleach solution or H2o2?