ch312 Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 an aquarium in the basement (usually cooler with minimal temp changes) is the easiest option overall. once your biological filter is setup and the algae eaters start growing it's nearly maintenance free. i use a homemade filter made with a small pond pump and small plastic garbage can filled with sponges and scrubby pads that keeps the 30 gallon tank crystal clear. bread crumbs work great for food. the aquarium and lights were free off kijiji and everything else was under $40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey buoy Posted December 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 an aquarium in the basement (usually cooler with minimal temp changes) is the easiest option overall. once your biological filter is setup and the algae eaters start growing it's nearly maintenance free. i use a homemade filter made with a small pond pump and small plastic garbage can filled with sponges and scrubby pads that keeps the 30 gallon tank crystal clear. bread crumbs work great for food. the aquarium and lights were free off kijiji and everything else was under $40. The coolest the basement would get would be around 60 degrees give or take. That would be cold enough? I have 2-10 gallon tanks and 1-5 gallon. Most of the other replies are talking ice packs/cold water?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipper D Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 (edited) I hear there are some guys Davey keeping them in 45 gallon plastic drums for extended periods of time ..... i am not sure what their procedure is but i could find out . Edited December 4, 2012 by Skipper " D " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 Just thinking the other day,if I was to pick minnows or shiners up after work on a Friday. What is the best way to keep them alive overnight ,or for the remainder of the weekend?. Keep in mind early morning start,sometimes before the bait stores open. Is the bucket with the air pump the best?,or is there other options to keep them lively?. As others have mentioned, keeping them cold works better than aeration alone. In combination, the minnows will last a week, even longer if you feed them and change the water. Treat the bucket like an aquarium in your fridge lol If they happen to die, add a half cup of salt to a ziploc bag, insert minnows and freeze. Works almost as good as live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey buoy Posted December 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 As others have mentioned, keeping them cold works better than aeration alone. In combination, the minnows will last a week, even longer if you feed them and change the water. Treat the bucket like an aquarium in your fridge lol If they happen to die, add a half cup of salt to a ziploc bag, insert minnows and freeze. Works almost as good as live. Really,good to know!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 As others have mentioned, keeping them cold works better than aeration alone. In combination, the minnows will last a week, even longer if you feed them and change the water. Treat the bucket like an aquarium in your fridge lol If they happen to die, add a half cup of salt to a ziploc bag, insert minnows and freeze. Works almost as good as live. No need to freeze SALTED minnows.... ..the fridge is much better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey buoy Posted December 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 No need to freeze SALTED minnows.... ..the fridge is much better... Thanks Billy!!,the free give away stops now.Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 Once frozen and thawed....they get mushy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cast-Away Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 Don't forget to feed them beer. Because it is liquid they can consume it easily and stay happy! If you give them enough beer they will multiply every few weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 The coolest the basement would get would be around 60 degrees give or take. That would be cold enough? I have 2-10 gallon tanks and 1-5 gallon. Most of the other replies are talking ice packs/cold water?. I don't think 60 is cold enough, mine go out in a big old Mcdonalds drink cooler at about 40 degrees in the garage. Even then, every other day I switch about 1/2 the water and add new from the sandpoint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 I freeze mine and have for years. Works great. To each their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey buoy Posted December 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 I freeze mine and have for years. Works great. To each their own. They don't get soggy when they thaw out Rich? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 If you're gonna freeze them...why salt them...if your gonna salt them...why freeze them.... ....do you salt your food before freezing... ....salt already preserves the minnows...if done properly they look almost alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyboss Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 Whatever you do with shiners just make sure that you do not show them a fishing hook, casue they usually die at the sight of one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leecher Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 (edited) Once frozen and thawed....they get mushy No they don't I freeze mine and have for years. Works great. To each their own. Yep... I do the same... I use coarse pickling salt and literally cover them They don't get soggy when they thaw out Rich? No they don't Davey... been doing this for years, they stay firm when thawed. Read here : Salties Edited December 5, 2012 by TroutJunkie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 If you don't salt them, you've got some great chum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch312 Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 (edited) The coolest the basement would get would be around 60 degrees give or take. That would be cold enough? I have 2-10 gallon tanks and 1-5 gallon. Most of the other replies are talking ice packs/cold water?. yes, most of the other replies speak of ice packs and cold water. but, considering i had over a couple dozen emerald shiners in my 30 gallon tank from last winter up until october, i'll let you decide who's right. you'll probably want a bigger tank as the temperature changes will be less significant, you can hold more fish, and a larger tank is easier to keep/maintain. it's much easier keeping minnows alive after you've kept aquariums for a while and understand the basics of keeping fish. if you've done everything properly the ONLY type of minnow that's mushy when thawed are the ones that were mushy before hitting the freezer (ie. the beginning of catfish bait) Edited December 5, 2012 by ch312 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexmedic Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 This may be of help.... Keeping Minnows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 They don't get soggy when they thaw out Rich? No.. Ive been doing it forever. I re-freeze them constantly in the fall.. I use a ton of salt. There is still a rotting process before the salt sets in and freezing helps slow the process. In the fridge they get stinky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey buoy Posted December 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 No.. Ive been doing it forever. I re-freeze them constantly in the fall.. I use a ton of salt. There is still a rotting process before the salt sets in and freezing helps slow the process. In the fridge they get stinky. I'm definitely going to try that this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nipfisher Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 Anyone ever buy the MAGIC preserved bait that they sell at Canadian Tire? I looked at the Emerald Shiners with Anise scent today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 Anyone ever buy the MAGIC preserved bait that they sell at Canadian Tire? I looked at the Emerald Shiners with Anise scent today. I personally found them awful. Gulp minnows got more bites, hands down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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