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How many minnows in a day
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It is a well settled fact in fisheries management that adult crappies prefer forage fish found in the open-water areas of reservoirs, particularly thread-fin and gizzard shad. As well understood, however, black crappies are often willing to feed on anything that fits into their mouths, including their own young but the rate of growth depends much more importantly on habitat, food availability and crappie population size for a given body of water.
In a natural setting: Too many crappies and not enough food results in slow growth or stunting. In an unnatural setting: The tremendous feeding and reproductive capabilities of crappie species also often results in stunting, particularly in small ponds or (I'm sure) in your much smaller artificial tank environment. IMO: The question of how many minnows will be the average number or right number to feed your black nose crappie; while largely given to speculation (on whatever theory) will eventually (surely) be overwritten (or re-written) by the confined space of the aquarium and the crappie's natural governance of digestion and energy expense verses pollution of their own environment due to the production of waste; both of which will cause the numbers of minnows to remain (both) variable and unpredictable throughout their whole life span I'm sure.
Perhaps the answer would be to go on a rotation plan of a dozen minnows one day (throughout the day) and two dozen the next (throughout the day) or something similar to that plan. I would also suggest the trial some other mixes of foods as well, such as shad, goldfish or smaller crawfish when the seasons or budget permits.
