for the most part it seems like the crappie eats around 2 to three minnows every other day, when theres lots of minnows to choose from. . I wanted to see if this held true after a bit of a dry spell. So when the last of the three dozen minnows I had put in the tank ran out, I waited 3 days, before getting more minnows,. yesterday I put 13 medium sized minnows in the tank, and this morning there are 5 left. Looking at how small a crappies stomach is, its evident that 8 medium sized minnows would not fit, so they must have a heck of a fast burning little furnace, and can process and store food quickly. this crappie is growing quickly and starting to get a thick back.