Holiday Season Fish Care

[fuzzylogic]

So as Holiday season approaches I think of all of the people traveling across the country to be with friends and family. I was wondering how everyone handles their fish when they go out of town. I personally kill the lights on everything that isn't planted and just don't feed them for up to 5 days. I was curious how everyone else takes care of their fish when they are traveling.

[cbryll]

I just had to leave for 3 days and just left them , meaning didn't leave anyone to 'feed' while away. They can definately go for a few days without food.

Most my tanks have timers for lights.

But this is a great question because in Dec. I will be going over for 7 days. Might need to buy an autofeeder. I have 6 tanks to keep up with ... but wow some people have over 50 how do they manage?

[kyangelsncorys]

Im lucky, i have a sister-in-law that lives not very far from me and she comes feeds the fish everyday. if she can`t do it then i use feeders if im going to be gone more then 3 days. 3 days is my limit but i know the fish can do without for several days like when i get fish from over seas it takes 3 to 4 days total some times.

[fuzzylogic]

I made the mistake of getting an automatic feeder from walmart when I was younger and dummer. I think it dropped food once the entire week I was gone. I didn't lose any fish but I threw that feeder away immediately

[kyangelsncorys]

yea i agree you have to watch witch feeders you buy, i set mine up a few days before i was leaving and checked them to make sure they worked rite.

[rickl]

For up to a week, I just leave them. I've contemplated buying one of the feeders that lets you drop pre-portioned meals, but I don't feed flake to my cichlids and really don't like the drum style feeders. I don't ever feed anything special for the babies either, and they seem to be doing ok. I think in an established tank you don't have much to worry about unless you're talking multiple weeks. Of course if you have some predators that are normally laid back because they have "easy food"... they might decide it's worth getting off their butts and going hunting!

-Rick (the armchair aquarist, who figures the multies can hold their own even if the julies decide to go hunting))

[bnoel210]

Does anyone ever use those little tablets that say it will feed your fish for 5 days or whatever. I have seen them but never used them.

[kyangelsncorys]

i think they call them week end feeders the trouble with those are if you have plecos they stay on it and the other fish do with out

[plecoman]

I've used the large blocks before and I like them. They are 7 day feeders that are pyramid shaped and they have an algae wafer on the inside too. I've used them in pleco tanks and cichlid tanks and they all like them.

[rick]

i never feed when on vacation and never any problems. i usually do a water change and feed before i leave. i was in jamacia for 10 days and all was good when i got back home.

[jon carman]

I don't do anything. Mine have been fine for 7 days easy. If I can get someone to come feed I do, but I think they have a better chance fasting than a random person overfeeding. Now with the new room I leave premeasured cups for sister or next door neighbor to feed. If I m gone 10 days I have them come 2 times(third and sixth day)

[signde]

i took a lot of 4 days trips this year. i didn't do anything. my last trip was 8 days so i broke out the cheap autofeeders from wally world. i have good luck with them.

[ree123]

I have tried having friends/family/neighbors/co-workers/etc... to drop by to feed.
I have left verbal instructions/ written instructions/ and even measured food amts./ in cups, bags, and various other containers.
Almost every time I do this I come home to polluted tanks or even to total dead tanks from pollution.
This has usually occured on trips where we were gone over a week.
When we are gone a few days or over a weekend, I give it no concern at all.

In the future I believe I am willing to go up to a week with no foods, as I can't seem to explain the rationale to non fish hobbyists of how much, or how little, to feed.

I can't do the auto feeder route as I have way to many tanks to achieve this process.
And,...using the block feeders is not an option, as like was said above, the BN Pleco's I have in almost all my tanks stay on them, thus food is not avail. to any other tank mates

I also have the delima of lighting if gone for over a week, since I have numerous tanks with live plants, and 24/7 light can be as bad as no light.
Once again, a weekend away has never posed a problem with lighting or feeding, or the lack therof.