Keeping shiners for a week or so

[big jim callahan]

I have some bait that I've been keeping with a bubbler for a week but Im curious if you give them a little
 food and if so what ? Thanks

[musky-man]

Unless you have a good filter no, the more food they eat the more they poop.

[big jim callahan]

Makes sense I just gave them a very  small pinch of fine cornmeal Hopefully it doesn't mess with them I have 2 dozen Thanks for the response

[esox_xtm]

You don't have to feed 'em, they stay alive for a lonnnng time without eating. Clean, aerated water is much more important. I had a big tub of chubs I kept from May clear into September. Never fed 'em. Got pretty skinny but only lost mebbe a hand full out of 10 dozen or thereabouts in that time.

[V Menzone]

Dont feed them and only swap out half the water a day or every few days depending how dirty it is

[FishingNewEngland]

https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=118602.msg1154075#msg1154075

This should help. I've had bait for a few weeks now with 0 losses...

[Ryan51993]

I've got about 2 dozen that have been in my basement in a 5 gallon bucket for 2 weeks now. I've been changing the water every 3 days or so when it gets cloudy and starts to stink. They were lazy when I was running a cheap baby bubbles aerator, I bought a better one for 8$ off Amazon and now they zoom around the bucket all day long. Haven't fed them anything and haven't lost a single one. I would give them a pinch of goldfish food if I planned on keeping them much longer.

[fishermantim]

As long as the water is kept cool/cold, they don't need to be fed much at all.
The key things to consider is that if you feed them, you WILL need to change the water more regularly.
The more they eat, the more they poop, and that will increase the ammonia level of the water.

I use an aquarium filter to help keep the water quality better for longer between changes.

I would use a 5 gallon bucket to keep a couple dozen small/medium shiners, and they would survive for as long as they could (until eaten by a fish under the ice).

[Brendog9]

I do it all the time too. I used to trap shiners so I bought an old fish tank, water filter and aerator.

Now I just keep them in a bucket if I know I'll be going again soon, never feed them. Will usually put some ice and slush in the bucket before I leave the pond/lake. At home I'll add some snow into the bucket, then melt some snow (when we have it) in another bucket to keep the clean water going.

[scooper47]

My response is not about food, but another tip. If you have to keep your shiners in a warm place (basement. etc.), throw a small amount of snow in the bucket with them when you are getting ready to go fishing. Again when you leave and arrive at the lake. If the snow doesn't melt, you have arrived at 32°. You don't want to drop 60° fish into 35° water. Lower the temperature as slowly as possible.

[big jim callahan]

That's a great tip Thanks

[pmaloney86]

Depending on your town I'd suggest getting a water dechlorinator or similar water treatment solution they use for pet fish.  I simply swap out a portion of the water in a coleman cooler every couple days but if I don't use the water treatment the new water kills several shiners each change.

[BogMan]

In my large 30 gallon tank I fill 2 5 gallon pails and let them sit for 3 days. Drain out 10 gallons and replace with sitting water. Next to nothing on loss. Only add dechloride if its not been sitting.

[hardfloor]

No need to feed them. I keep bait in my garage from November to April. Only time they ate was when In the traps. I've had as many as 30 dozen at times. I have a 110 gallon tuff tank with a pond filter.

[pmaloney86]

In my large 30 gallon tank I fill 2 5 gallon pails and let them sit for 3 days. Drain out 10 gallons and replace with sitting water. Next to nothing on loss. Only add dechloride if its not been sitting.

X2 on this.  I'm not disciplined enough for this method but agree it does work.  The water treatment is quick and easy.