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Posts: 434
Location: searchin for 50 | Was wondering what you guys do to keep your suckers alive between trips and /or extended time off of water. I hate it when your spending big bucks for suckers and you don't get to use all of them  Thanks |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | same problem i had raider, i took a old big cooler, its one of those 60 qt??? ones on wheels. i drilled a hole in it, bought a 30 gal aquarium aeroator. and kept 3 of them in there for 10 days with no problems, about every 3rd day i wheeled it out, drained the water down and filled it with fresh water, fed them crawlers aavery few days and they were fine. we even had quite a warm spell down here and they didnt go belly up on me at all! |
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Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Raider, here's what I do:
1. Containers - either largecoolers or larger 30 gal sterilite containers.
2. Aerators - standard aquarium double pumper (dual hose) in each tank.
3. Lake Water - change it every other day. I'm in the city so can't use that source and it's probably all superstition but I think "living" water from a lake or river does a better job than a well. I've got nothing to back that up though.
4. Temperature - keep them cool. use ice if it's warm (above 60 F during the day) some people say ice will kill them because of additives. That has not happened to me. Keep containers out of direct sun. If I have the tanks outside my garage, I will cover them in an old blanket or sleeping bag.
5. Occupancy - I limit to 4 in each tank if I can help it.
I have been very successful keeping them alive throughout the fall. I've kept some going for 6 weeks and they would have lasted longer had I not turned them into garden fertilizer. Most of my mortality comes from either being eaten or they jump out. Very rarely do I lose one that has been sitting in my tanks. If I have one hooked on a harness, sometimes they will kick after a week or so.
I'm using larger suckers too - 18" or so.
Hope this helps,
Jono
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Posts: 469
Location: Downers Grove, IL | I would go to a pet store and buy some stress coat. This stuff does wonders on the condition of the suckers. It's especially helpful to the suckers that have been hooked but not eaten. As always, lots of oxygen, plenty of fresh water, and keeping them as cold as possible are a must. I usually keep them in a 55 gallon black contractor bag inside a round rubbermaid bin. I think keeping them in the dark not only helps keep the water cold but reduces their stress levels. I've never tried feeding them because I figured it would dirty up the water too much. I ususally buy my suckers here in Illinois. They're a hell of a lot cheaper and they're frickin troopers. Traveling with them is really easy. I just run a couple aerators from a small converter with the air tubes running back to the bin. I use zip tie to seal the bag tight and I'm good to go. Hope this helps.
thedude |
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Posts: 434
Location: searchin for 50 | Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try  |
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| Keep them cool. Use with Non-Chlorinated water if possible. I use my live well or a big enough cooler that they can move around freely. I just add water everyday or two. I have had bad luck on occasion with changing the water entirely. Possible because of the sudden temp change that they couldn't recover from. Make sure you have a good cover so they don't jump out. Along with an aerator and some luck they’ll be ready when you need them.
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Posts: 469
Location: Downers Grove, IL | Stress coat conditioner takes chlorine, ammonia, iron, etc out of the water. It neutralizes it right away. I also fill five gallon buckets of well water and let them sit outside overnight to let the Oxygen displace some of the chemicals. Also, instead of using ice.... freeze a couple water bottles overnight and use them. This way your not adding any chemicals from regular well water.
thedude |
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Keeping suckers alive