Feeding and Nutrition :: Adding Minnows

[jasmiester]

I was wondering if someone could do me a favour and write a brief summary on the instructions i need to do to add minnows to my tank. I read that you shouldn't add in the pet store water because of parasites and bacteria, and that you should leave the bag floating in the water over night..are there any other key factors that I should know about? And if I am floating the bag in the water wouldn't my turts bite at the bag, ripping it open? and maybe even eating some of the plastic?

Thank yoouuu

[kmichael55]

If they are to be used as food, you don't need to be so concerned about their acclimation (floating the bag) I usually dump out all of the water from the bag (down the sink) and then just dump the fish into the water (quickly obviously since they are not in water)

[octpusgirl8]

I don't think there's any need to leave the bag floating in the tank over night. It is recomended to let the bag float in the water for a little while to help equalize the temperatures so as not to shock the fish. I just stick them right in though, i've never had them die or anything. You're right about not putting in the pet store water, who know what's in there! Parasites can be a concern with feeder fish, some people like to freeze them to kill the parasites before giving them to the turtle (they thaw them first of course!) but a lot of people offer live fish too.

[kgielda]

I let the bag float for about 20 minutes. Harvey always bites at it trying to get the fish. I dump the water over my sink into the fish net and let the fish fall in, then put them in the tank.

[jasmiester]

Ohhhh, okay thanks, and yeah, I was thinking of having them in there live as food .. how long can the little minnows last without water? LOL..The sink that I use is around..10 seconds away. And I guess I need some sort of small container to catch the water incase they shake a lot? or do they not struggle when im dumping them in the tank..

[octpusgirl8]

They'll be fine, they could probably go a few minutes without water if you really wanted to push it. Generally a fish will lay still in the net once they're out of water, but you never know. You might want to carry a towel or something underneath if you're worried about drips.