Feeding minnows

[Brush Buster]

I have a 300 gallon tank with fresh spring water running through it and i have been keeping my leftover minnows in the tank. I have a mix of tuffys and small shiners in the tank. I have been feeding them some chicken starter which is actually ground up corn (i think). Anyway, im noticing that some are dieing and just wonderig if this is a bad thing to be feeding or if it is just a natural death rate. I'm losing about 2 dozen a week dieing off. The tank is outside. If any of you keep minnow i would like to know what you feed them.

Thanks,

BB

[Hitek]

I keep mine but usually only for 2-3 weeks and I do not feed them anything. I would think that normal fish food would work fine though.

[bttmline]

I believe this to be normal. I used to own a bait shop and 24 minnows a week is about 3.5 minnies a day. Any bait shop will tell you they wish they only lost 3 a day. As far as feeding them, that will only dirty your tank faster. Never feed them.

[slabbandit]

Don't feed them unless they start lookin' real thin. The more that they eat the more waste that they will produce and the worst the water quality will be.

[kycreek]

I never feed mine.

[STUMP HUNTER]

I don't feed my minnows, they will feed on the dead minnows. I always leave a couple of the dead minnows floating in the tank.

[rushcreekoutdoor]

I keep a 150 gallon tank and can hold 5 - 6 pounds with air in cool weather. I put in a little salt to toughen the gills, but not a whole lot.

Food will really do nothing but dirty up the water and kill the minnows quicker in my option. They seem to live nicely cannibalizing each other.

rco

[yankee doodler]

and I too never feed mine. Natural mortality rate. and like Stump says they will eat the few that do die. Saves cleaning the tank as often too.