How to Make Minnow Tanks

The minnow has long been a favorite bait fish or feeder fish. They are hardy by nature, simple to care for and entertaining to watch; so why not save time and money by raising them yourself? To make your own minnow tank, follow the steps in the guide below.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-gallon aquarium
  • Fish cave
  • Aquarium gravel
  • Aquarium filter
  • Light
  • Tank heater
  • Thermometer
  • pH test kit
  • Commercial chlorine removal product
  • 6 minnows: 2 male and 4 female
  • Fish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up your fish tank. Choose a location out of direct sunlight and rinse the tank to remove any dust or debris that may have settled inside.

    • 2

      Pour a layer of aquarium gravel in the bottom of the tank and use it to secure the filter, heater, plants and cave. The fish cave or ledge can be purchased from a pet supply store, made yourself with found rocks or made by placing a cup or section of PVC pipe on its side in the aquarium. The idea is to create an outcropping to lay eggs on and a hiding place for babies, should they have any.

    • 3

      Fill the tank with water and add a commercial treatment to remove any chlorine. Stir 1 tablespoon of sea salt into the water.

    • 4

      Allow the tank to stand for 24 to 48 hours. Then test the pH of the aquarium. Minnows prefer an environment with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.

    • 5

      Check the temperature of the water. Your target temperature is between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust your heater accordingly.

    • 6

      Go to your local bait shop and purchase your minnows. The goal is to purchase 2 males and 4 females. Look closely at the minnows. Males who are ready to breed will have white bumps on their gills and around their head.

    • 7

      Place the minnow container inside the aquarium for a few hours to allow the temperatures of the containers to become approximately equal. Alternatively, add water from the aquarium to the minnow container, a bit at a time, to help them adjust to the new environment.

    • 8

      Open or submerge the minnow container into the aquarium and allow the fish to swim out into the larger tank.

    • 9

      Give your minnows 14 hours of light per day and feed them twice a day--once in the morning and again in the evening. Offer a variety of foods, crushed fish flakes, brine shrimp, small worms, oatmeal, daphnia, etc.

    • 10

      Watch for signs of mating behavior such as fin flicking, loitering near the cave or females holding eggs. If you notice a female no longer holding her eggs, do not disturb the spawning area for a week or two. If the fertilization was successful, you will see baby fish, or fry, swimming about. If the adults seem inclined to eat the fry, move them into a protective container or place the adult fish in a different aquarium until the fry have grown.