What Do Animals Eat?

What Do Minnows Eat?

Posted In: Fish.

Minnows can eat different foods depending on the environment. Knowing the right thing to feed them can help them tremendously. The food eaten can be those that are available in a household kitchen, but when it comes to minnows that are wild, mosquitoes will be a big part of the diet. If it is a captive or pet minnow, blood worms would definitely be on the menu. So the diet will vary depending on the environment that the minnow is in. Wild or pet, the diet is important to the health of the fish, regardless of circumstance.

A female rosy red minnow eating a plantA female rosy red minnow eating a plant. Photo by Robyn Rhudy.

Wild minnows

Wild minnows have a definite menu as far as food choices are concerned. Dead and decaying things like animals or plants, as well as algae and mosquitoes, are the food of choice. Saltwater shrimp, if the minnows live in salt water, can also be a food source. They only consume small amounts of food out in the wild.

Captive minnows

Minnows that are pets can be fed tropical fish flakes or frozen shrimp that is frozen. Blood worms, bread crumbs, plants and vegetables also make up a percentage of the minnow diet of a pet. Many things can be found in a local pet store or in kitchen.

Types of minnows

There are two different types of minnows and each one will require something different. While minnows that live in saltwater can also live in fresh, they will need the same type of diet. Freshwater minnows will need the diet that has been listed above. Saltwater minnows will need the addition of brine shrimp.

Finding food for minnows

Finding the right food for minnows can be easy. A local pet store would have the blood worms and goldfish flakes, while a household kitchen will have the crumbs, plants and vegetables that are needed to make a quality diet for your minnow. Another option for finding food would be online at specialty retailers. These items are not hard to find and make caring for and feeding a minnow much easier.