Why does the energy in minnows not get passed on to pike that eat them?

Energy does get passed on from minnows to pike that eat them. This process is called trophic transfer. When the pike eats the minnow, it consumes the minnow's energy, which is then used to support the pike's own growth and survival. However, not all of the minnow's energy is transferred to the pike. Some of it is lost as heat or waste products, and some of it is used by the pike to perform other tasks, such as swimming and hunting.