AGHHHHHH!!!!!

[Matty]

My brother the genious decided that my fish looked hungry and he decided to feed them half of my can of fish food (about 20-30 daily feedings) all at once. i don't know what to do now! should I do a complete water change and vacuum the tank? Should I pray that my eheim gets all the excess food or should I buy some rope to hang my brother with?

 

[CathyG]

The rope might bring some level of satisfaction lol! But it won't help your fish, unfortunately. An immediate partial water change and vacuum the excess food is the right way to go, then keep an eye on your water parameters...you may experience a mini cycle. Try to keep your Ammonia and Nitrite levels below 1ppm by regular water changes over the next few days...in the meantime have your brother do most of the work so that he understands the consequences

Good luck!

 

[lizard]

If it's still floating around in the water, I'd try to net a lot of the food out. I would also do a large water change (~50% perhaps). Watch your water levels closely. You'll probably need to do water changes for the next few days.

I'd also suggest removing the food from your brother's reach/area of access

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[clutterydrawer]

i agree with the above, also if the fish have eaten a lot at once you should skip a few feedings in case they burst

how old is your borther? you might wanna try expliainging to him how bad it is for the fish to be overfed.

 

[Matty]

nono...its not like my brother is a toddler and doesn't understand the effects...he's 16 and was just acting like a jerk to get me mad.

 

[David]

Damn. Did you at least kick his a$$ for that? I sure would if my younger 13 year old brother did that.

 

[FishDan]

I'd just clean as much of the food out as possible. Skip a few feedings. Watch your water parameters. Remember, you'll have to sit back and wait before any possible ill effects show themselves. The possible problems (like an ammonia spike) will be caused by rotting food and will not be immediate. If you remove most of the food, do a few water changes, and generally monitor your tank you'll have nothing to worry about. The problems will start happening if you leave the excess food in the tank long tem. Regular water changes will prevent problems in this case as in most any other (once you remove a majority of the food).

\Dan

 

[SnowyzMom]

Definitely agree with all the advice posted here...frequent water changes,vacuum and net the excess food up...do you have any snails or bottom feeders in there? They'll help clean up the bits you miss. Also, if you don't have fry to feed in there then you can let the fish go 5 days or so without a feeding. I've heard a week is okay but my fish beg too prettily for me to manage that.

Oh yeah, get your brother back...shortsheet his bed, or put shaving cream in it, about where his feet would be, or put girly potpourri in his underwear drawer....and HIDE all your fish food! Or put a lock on your door so he can't get in there, the little jerk.

Let us know how the fish manage okay??? Keeping my fingers crossed for ya!

 

[Matty]

Thanks for your concern.

I did a full water change and vacuumed my tank thoroughly. So far, my fish are fine but yes, im keeping an eye on the water chemistry...