The Care of Minnows

Minnows are small fish that range from 1.5 to 3 inches long in length and can live for one to three years. They can be kept as pets, used as fishing bait or used to feed carnivorous pet fish. Regardless of your intentions for the minnows your purchase, proper care is important for keeping your minnows, and the fish they feed or share a tank with, healthy.

Things You'll Need

Quarantine tank
Infection or parasite medication
10-gallon or larger aquarium
Water
Aquarium stand
External power filter
Water test kit or strips
Aquarium heater
Flake fish food

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase minnows at a pet or aquarium store that screens minnows for parasitic, bacterial and fungal infections before they are available for purchase.
- 2
  Keep minnows in an aquarium that holds at least 10 gallons of water, as you need 1 gallon of water per inch of adult minnows. For example, five 2-inch minnows require 10 gallons of water. Use a tank that can hold well over 10 gallons of water, if you are mixing minnows with other fish.
- 3
  Place the aquarium containing minnows, whether alone or with other fish, in a low-traffic area of your home or workplace and away from direct sunlight and drafts.
- 4
  Use an external power filter to keep the aquarium water clean. Filters can be purchases at pet supply stores and should include directions for installation and maintenance.
- 5
  Check the water quality regularly, changing 10 percent of your tank water per week, or at least 25 percent per month. To test water quality, use a water test kit or strips, available at pet or aquarium stores, or take a water sample to a pet or aquarium store that offers water testing.
- 6
  Keep the water temperature between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. An aquarium heater may be necessary to maintain the desired water temperature.
- 7
  Feed minnows flake fish food, according to the directions or as much as they can eat in one to three minutes, twice a day.