You are here:

Fish/breeding minnows for bait

Advertisement

Expert: Ron Coleman - 8/1/2008


Question
Ron-I normally ask you Jack Dempsey questions but your name popped up for the minnows.  My son (14 yrs) wants to breed minnows for bait to fish with.  I've been investigating to see if this is possible for a layman.  We have a 10 gallon tank reserved for this purpose with pea gravel.  I know the fish dealer down the street sells Rosy Reds.  Where will we find our success?  Breeds, water temp and conditions, decor, any info you have would be helpful.  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Leslie,
 If he wants to breed minnows to see if he can breed them, that is a worthwhile project. If he wants to breed them because he thinks it will be cheaper than buying them, that is simply not going to happen.  Many minnows are not trivial to breed because their breeding is tied to the seasons, i.e., they breed in early spring.  Getting them to breed at other times can be a challenge.  Then, once they have laid eggs, you have to raise them up and that will take the better part of a year or so, during which time you have to care for them, feed them, etc.
Doing all of this will require grow up tanks, filters, etc.


Bottom line: it is an interesting thing to do, but if you want minnows to fish with, buy them at the bait store.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresarch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>

Fish

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Ron Coleman

Expertise

I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish). Please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. I keep fishes both as a scientist and as a hobbyist and I currently maintain about 140 aquariums.

Experience

I am an Associate Professor at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I was editor of Cichlid News magazine for several years. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.

Publications
Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes

Education/Credentials
PhD (Toronto, 1993) MSc (Simon Fraser, 1986) BSc (British Columbia, 1983)

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.