Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain A few good minnows

There are numerous shiners and minnows that look close to emerald shiners. Separating them can be difficult without a dissection microscope and proper taxonomic keys.

Shipping dead fish. Simple.

1. First you pickle or preserve them by adding live fish to preservative until they are dead,,, usu 2 to 5 min. Acceptable general use preservative is Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or straight vodka.

2. Let them soak in preservative at least 24hrs. Large fish should have an incision in the belly so preservative can penetrate body cavity.

3. After fish are dead and soaked, drain off liquid, put fish in double zip-loc bags. I often wrap fish in small paper towel soaked in preservative before bagging.

4. Box them with some packing to prevent crushing them and send to recipient.