My experience lately in the heat is that Gizzard shad seem to die faster than Threadfin all variables being equal. I use the Shadsaver, ice jugs, and a good filtration system with no foaming whatsoever. I even go as far as letting them sit in stages of 5 gallon buckets to de-slime shortly before adding to the tank. Just seems they do not last as long. I also find that once a few of the Gizzards go the rest follow shortly after.

Maybe more Shad Saver for Ammonia build up?

Gizzards pee and poop more than threadfins therefore increasing ammonia buildup quicker as you thought. Shad saver might work but a better choice for detoxifying ammonia is Amquel. Its clear so no artificial blue coloring like shad saver. Do you use salt? Stock salt and amquel is all you need. 1 cup of stock salt/15 gal.

Where can I buy it?

Petsmart,petco, or walmart

I alway try to use the gizzards first to get them out of the tank before they kill the others.

I find it easy to keep gizzards alive. In my livewell, I have a freshwater pump that pumps water in from the lake(I leave on the entire time) and then have a recirc pump that recirculates the water. I can keep shad alive for a very long time with this setup without adding any kind of additive. I dont use threads as they are a little small for the fish I am targetting. I have kept gizzards alive for upto three days at a time using just my recirc pump while the boat is in the driveway. Another thing to keep in mind is the size of your livewell. A bunch of large gizzards in a a small livewell will produce quite a bit of ammonia and crud and without the proper filtration, water circulation and oxygen, you can kiss them goodbye.

how many shad are you putting in the tank, and how big is the tank?

I alway's wondered about pulling in fresh water. Most school of thought say's you should keep your bait in a recirculating tank and add salt or shad saver. And ice. Seems to me that as long as there is ample amounts of the water they came from the shad should remain fine and lively. This must be futher examined.

I've tried the fresh (new) water thing in my bait tank and they don't last as long as recirculated water with the filter and salt. They get red nosed real quick. Maybe mine is not set up right.

+1

As Piepuncher stated before. Gizzard shad are the choice of bait over threadfin. And I think they tougher then threadfin. Also take into consideration the more you handle them and take their slime coat off the faster they die. As stated before the amonia factor kills them more often then not. I have no problem keeping them in my livewells on my boat I just keep it recirculating.

Stock salt and amquel is all you need. 1 cup of stock salt/15 gal.

Is stock salt the same thing as rock salt?

How much Amquel/15 gal?

Thanks

I have a recirculating tank and have no problems until about mid June. Once the surface temp gets above 80 you will start to have problems. It is hard to put ice or chemicals in because you are constantly bringin in fresh water. I also have a tendency to overload mine.

Stock salt is similar to rock salt as far as the granular size. Stock salt is all white and cheaper than rock salt. I keep my amquel in a 20 oz soda bottle and use about a capful or 2 for 30 gallons.

Stock salt is a little smaller than rock salt therefore dissolving better. As stated above its cheaper to boot. You can get it at a feed store. Make sure its non-iodinized.