Still having trouble with keeping bait

[shybeaver]

I would start with a water conditioner, regardless of the water source. 

I think you have something contaminating your water.

Good Luck

[BrownTroutBoy]

Is their chemicals that can kill them used to make what you keep them in?... Dont bleach it ater the season... woops

[Icebound]

#1 Never use soap or any solvents to clean your bait tank, the residue is hard to get rid of.
#2 If you think your well water is a problem use pond water. It has nutrients that feed them and keep them happy.
#3 Keep them cold! Lowers their metabolism and keeps them alive longer. A few ice cubes once in a while adds o2 and gives them a chill.
Works for me...........

[pegasus]

My tank has never had any soaps or bleach in it. It's stored in a cold area and I have two air pumps going now. I think it must be the water and the species of minnow.

[Icebound]

My tank has never had any soaps or bleach in it. It's stored in a cold area and I have two air pumps going now. I think it must be the water and the species of minnow.

May be the water. Try pond water if you have a couple 5gal buckets to get it in..........

[pooley]

i still say to try a water treatment product. you can find it at any large tackle store. i've been using this stuff for years, and it's not expensive. i've used it all over new york state, and we have every kind of water you could imagine.

[robbfishing]

PET STORE

[boooshka]

I am having the same problem. I am trying to keep them in my 5gl bait bucket because the girlfriend took over my bait tank for pet fish. I can't keep bait alive a week. I have tryed well water, pond water, air, no air , and still having problems. Maybe its something wrong with the bucket. Never had any problems with the Tank!

[Phoenix]

I keep mine in the brook behind the house, they told me they like it there

[pooley]

try this.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0056605020031a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=water+treatment&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

[NateDawg]

I would substitute your well water with pond water.  If you're using a regular aerator and adding atmospheric air than you can't put too much in, however do use an air stone because the smaller bubbles will dissolve into the water easier than larger bubbles.  When you use a bubbler you are also adding nitrogen which aids in removing Ammonium which is a byproduct of keeping fish.  Straight O2 has no nitrogen and therefore you will have an Ammonium buildup which will kill off your bait.  Temp is also important because at lower water temps there is a greater ability to hold dissolved oxygen.  If you do use municipal water make sure you treat it with a chemical that treats both chlorine and chloramine as some towns are switching to the latter. 

[troutlover]

try keeping it in a small round bait bucket with insulation in a cold area and keep the top off so its open to the air and use a bubble box or stones but dont keep it in all the time it works for me

[barkspud]

did you by them or trap them? if bought them maybe something wrong with them. sometimes a long hard ride to and from pond will stress them hard thus slow die off. if emeralds go through a rapid temp change they get stressed too.

[mayhem2]

i keep mine in a frabill bucket on the outside porch with a air stone. i check the freezing when i walk the dogs.
i used to keep it in a 30 gal inside ( with well water) but they wouldn't acclimate back to the lake. i think because i couldn't cool them fast enough. now they never get warm no more problems any ?  8)

[Old Crow]

I use well water and an aerator and shiners do fine.  I have some smelt that last and some that die.  I think sometimes it depends on how hardy the smelt are when you buy them.