minnows

[jeff]

does ne1 keep minnows in there pond. do they need to be out during the winter in 2' deep pond. do koi eat minnows?

[PhishPhreek]

Re: minnows

no, yes, no

minnosickles  

[JStrider]

Re: minnows

as long as the minnows are cold water, they can probably overwinter here without much issue.

[reptilegrrl]

I have mosquito fish, a type of minnow. They overwinter in Houston just fine. Koi WILL eat them. Koi will eat anything that fits in their mouths.

[Tiapan]

ur right they dont seem to be too picky.

[amilcar]

minnow.....what is classified as minnow here??

[Nickintex]

You can always get the larger bait minnows from Gander Mountain. Those are Gold Shiners and I doubt they will fit in your koi's mouth.

[Sea-agg09]

Well, if you have a cast net with a small enough mesh you can actually catch some fish for your pond. I know Fish Gallery was selling "Red Horse Minnows", which is nothing more than a red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis). They are pretty and found in every ditch, creek, pond (natural), and backwater in the houston area. I put a group of 10 in my mothers tank that I caught out in Sugar Land, and they are doing quite well. You can also catch some black-tail shiners (Cyprinella venusta), though they are somewhat harder to find. I caught some out near East Bernard. I like these because they are silver and have a nice sheen that would stand out in an artificial pond.

All these fish live in very shallow water in Texas, so I would only assume that they would survive in a pond deeper than many of the places I have found them. If the pond totally freezes over, you may have to find some new ones...

[Nickintex]

minnow.....what is classified as minnow here??

MINNOWS: Family Cyprinidae

[blacksmith37]

I guess what a minnow is depends on where you are.
The "minnows" in my pond are zebra and giant danios and green swordtails. The zebras and swords wintered over ; I added the giants this summer. They reproduce vigorusly in my system (pond + 40' stream).
My koi are sworn vegetarians; they are about 2 ' long (+ a handful of 3" fry) . The best way to see the "minnows" is when they pass above a brightly colored koi. I estimate there are 200 to 400 "minnows" .

[amilcar]

MINNOWS: Family Cyprinidae

yeah I see what you mean....what my point is that different people call minnows whatever is small and that can be catched locally....I mean such as people calling gambusia affinis minnows when they are livebearers

[Mzungu]

different people call minnows whatever is small and that can be catched locally

I was going to say something similar, but wasn't sure if I would offend. I wanted to say that many people say "minnow" when they mean "bait," and don't care to differentiate between family, species, etc. :)

[Tiapan]

mmmmm bait, i agree with small common fish

[Sea-agg09]

I just can't see spending money on aquarium fish when you are going to only see their top. Also what fish would be better to survive in a pond than fish that naturally live in texas... : )

[jeff]

I just can't see spending money on aquarium fish when you are going to only see their top. Also what fish would be better to survive in a pond than fish that naturally live in texas... : )

well said.