Why do minnows start getting a lighter color??

I've noticed that after a few days, or about a week ,my minnows start losing their dark color and start getting lighter? Any suggestions?

Because of the treated water. Even the hatchery that sell the minows use natural water until it reaches bait shop. Get home and put in raw well water or get some lake water and get temperature correct and try that. But even the dark gold wild shiners that shops sell will become almost a pale silver after a week or so in the bait tanks. They (wild shiners)also become very docile, best is shiners that are about 3 days out the river or lake, over the stress of being caught, still fiesty, but retain their natural color still.

I have been using pond water. My friend has the same thing happen and he uses well water. Just curious and Thanks.

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Originally Posted by pescador

I have been using pond water. My friend has the same thing happen and he uses well water. Just curious and Thanks.

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Have no clue then.

Minnows kept in a light colored tank will become lighter colored much quicker than those kept in a dark colored tank. Natural defense mechanism.

A few of the bait shops around here use to add a blue colored agent to the water.It kept the minnows a natural color.I don't remember anymore what it was...I know there are some bait additives that are blue colored but not sure if thats what the commercial shops were using. They refrigerated the tanks to 55 degrees and had that blue bait additive...them minnows were so frisky you had to thump em on the head sometimes to slow em down enough the fish could catch em LOL.

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Originally Posted by jigflinger

Minnows kept in a light colored tank will become lighter colored much quicker than those kept in a dark colored tank. Natural defense mechanism.

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Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Yep - seen it myself.
Use a dark bucket and they stay dark.
Heck even some of the perch I catch over sandy bottoms are pale compared to the weed bed dwellers.....

clear water bright light - dark color
dark water (muddy)- light color
natural camouflage , this can be used to your advantage

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Originally Posted by doggone

A few of the bait shops around here use to add a blue colored agent to the water.It kept the minnows a natural color.I don't remember anymore what it was...I know there are some bait additives that are blue colored but not sure if thats what the commercial shops were using. They refrigerated the tanks to 55 degrees and had that blue bait additive...them minnows were so frisky you had to thump em on the head sometimes to slow em down enough the fish could catch em LOL.

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The product is called Finer Shiner by Sure Life

Tim
Salt Creek Bait

:yikes