Dead Minnows

[Sluggo]

Last time I went fishing I bought minnows, put them in the styrofoam lined plastic pail I have been using for years. Thru it in the pickup box and drove to the lake. When I opened the minnow pail at the lake, nearly all the minnows were dead. Some were still kicking a little. I was totally dumbfounded as that has never happened before. I quickly drained the water and replaced it with lake water and the ones that were still kicking stayed alive. Anyone have any idea why they died? The only thing I can come up with is maybe the pail was super cold and it was too much of a shock for them coming from the bait tank.

 

[guywhofishes]

Strange. Don't think it was temp change - especially if foam lined.

 

[svnmag]

Maybe they were in a cult?

 

[Davy Crockett]

Have you ever set a quart of oil or a can of wd40 in the container ? A little drop is all it takes.

 

[Vollmer]

My biggest gripe with minnows is that most places you buy, they are tiny.

 

[svnmag]

Have you ever set a quart of oil or a can of wd40 in the container ? A little drop is all it takes.

The belief of WD40 being fish oil based is false. MSDS easily found on-line.

 

[lunkerslayer]

did the minnows become reddish around the gills, if so could you have filled your pail or bucket with tap water. Tap water is a no no for minnows because of the chlorine in the water. I am not accusing you of being an idiot just asking a question

 

[Sluggo]

I used the bucket a week ago with no problems. The bucket was kept in the garage with a lid on it so I don't think anything could have accidentally gotten spilled in it. I bought the bait from a local bait shop, nice big minnows, and they filled the bucket with water. I actually didn't see them fill it but gotta believe they did it like they have done a 100 times before.

I didn't notice any discoloration. Ended up using the dead ones all day for jigging since we were just using heads.

 

[svnmag]

Sounds like it was filled with tap water now.

 

[Lapper]

Last time I went fishing I bought minnows, put them in the styrofoam lined plastic pail I have been using for years. Thru it in the pickup box and drove to the lake. When I opened the minnow pail at the lake, nearly all the minnows were dead. Some were still kicking a little. I was totally dumbfounded as that has never happened before. I quickly drained the water and replaced it with lake water and the ones that were still kicking stayed alive. Anyone have any idea why they died? The only thing I can come up with is maybe the pail was super cold and it was too much of a shock for them coming from the bait tank.

Same thing happened to me on Friday. I figured it was a problem with their water. Only thing I could figure.

 

[svnmag]

I'd advise the manager of the problem and squirt some aquarium water conditioner in the bucket before the next filling.

 

[Sum1]

did the minnows become reddish around the gills, if so could you have filled your pail or bucket with tap water. Tap water is a no no for minnows because of the chlorine in the water. I am not accusing you of being an idiot just asking a question

This iswhat Iwasthinking.FriggenRussians...hacked MySpaceragain.

 

[lunkerslayer]

I'd advise the manager of the problem and squirt some aquarium water conditioner in the bucket before the next filling.

Or find some minnows that are not in a cult:;:smokin

- - - Updated - - -

This iswhat Iwasthinking.FriggenRussians...hacked MySpaceragain.

thedamnrussiansalwaysmetalinginstuffthat..justpissesmeoff

 

[Retired Educator]

I can understand chlorine in the water not being beneficial to minnows but I do that all the time. Perhaps it is the level of chlorine in the water. When I have left over minnows I bring them home and store them in a styrofoam lined bucket. Depending on the number of minnows I change the water about every other day and have had minnows keep for 2 weeks or more. In fact the minnows I used today have been in the bucket since before New Year's Day. My tap water is city water where I know they use chlorine to prevent bacteria. Tests are required periodically to insure the lever of chlorine is high enough to kill any bacteria.

That's what I do so I'm no help to your situation. I do notice that if there are too many minnows in the bucket my success rate is not very good. Gallon (roughly) of water and 2-3 dozen average to small minnows generally is no problem Double the number of minnows and not so good.

When i change water I make sure the tap runs awhile so the water is about as cold as it can be out of the tap. Keep them in the laundry room and if I"m in the mood to hear my wife yell I like to put a few in the bathroom toilet to say good morning to her first thing in the day. Nothing like going to sit down on the stool and see your little buddies swimming below you.

 

[Sluggo]

Same thing happened to me on Friday. I figured it was a problem with their water. Only thing I could figure.

I sent you a PM to see if we got them from the same bait shop.

 

[deleted member]

Too many in the container. Suffocation.

 

[Ericb]

Ive noticed periodically the minnows just doent last some times from certain gas stations in Bismarck. Not sure if they forget to add a additive to the water or what.

 

[shorthairsrus]

Sure they didn't freeze. Plus the guy with red around gills that can be old water. Same with dead minnows. They will only survive in old water so long. I generally replace the water mid week and I use chlormaine/chlorine remover 1/2 cap. Stir and let water sit outside for couple hours to make sure it's close in temp with the old water

 

[Rowdie]

How cold was it outside? How big is the pail? How many minnows did you have? I'm guessing they got too cold too fast.

 

[gr8outdoors]

I use tap water all winter long with the airator bucket n no issue. I keep the same minnows alive for 3 weeks to a month.