keeping bait alive after the fact

[porkpiehat]

It's been a week since my last trip and I'm just now cleaning out my truck. found some live smelt and minnow in two of my buckets. I'd like to keep them alive for another week, but every time I add water at home (I live in boston) they die soon after. I have an aerator also.

Any tips? Thanks

[rdhammah]

the chlorine or chloramine is killing them. you need to neutralize it. there is chemical available at pet stores that do this or you can lave a bucket of water out for a couple of days and it will dissipate naturally. leaving in sun is best. rain water will also work

[hardwater diehard]

Gallon jugs and some lake/stream water .

[porkpiehat]

I will try both methods...there is a pond down the street from me and I'll set some clear small buckets out in the sun (with water of course)

[wyogator]

I just fill up a 5 gallon bucket of tap water and let it sit for 24 hours, no dead minnows yet.

[Seamonkey84]

I just fill up a 5 gallon bucket of tap water and let it sit for 24 hours, no dead minnows yet.

That would would work depending on if your water supply has chlorine or chloramine. Chloramine doesn’t gas out like chlorine, but it’s safer to just use a water conditioner or lake water.

[Fish Farmer]

The product you want from the pet stores is AmQuel. I used to live near Boston and would set up salt and freshwater tanks and instantly add fish and rarely have problems as long as the temperature was similar. It also helps keep the ammonia down if you're not changing the water a lot.

[porkpiehat]

thanks everyone I stopped at a local pond and stuck an aerator in.

[Spider1]

If they do die, try salting and freezing them for bait later instead of tossing them.