Can Fish Last 5 Days Without Food?

[aaronnorth]

Can fish survive 5 days without food? I am going on holiday and so is my neighbour, I am gradually cutting down on the feeding so it isnt a sudden shock.

Can they last 2 weeks just so i know?

Thanks Aaron

 

[Ian H]

yep, can easily last 5 days. 2 weeks would also be fine

 

[Tolak]

Five days is no problem for healthy adult fish, two weeks is the maximum I would advise, though I've fasted them longer. This is a good read on fasting to simulate dry & rainy seasons to induce spawning; http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...%20seasons.html

 

[SJ2K]

2 weeks is pushing it IMO, 1 week and under should be fine All depends on what fish and how mature they are, large catfish etc can last weeks on end no problem, smaller fish such as tetra etc wont last 2 weeks without atleast suffer serious health issues.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

Five days is no problem for healthy adult fish, two weeks is the maximum I would advise, though I've fasted them longer. This is a good read on fasting to simulate dry & rainy seasons to induce spawning; [URL="http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...%20seasons.html"]http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...%20seasons.html[/URL]

i agree 2 weeks maximum, but again i have done it longer when i had to.

 

[bronzecat]

Hi
I voted yes for 5 days

Had a look at your tanks on your profile. The ones that may suffer 2 weeks are the tetras and endlers.

My only thought is, if you're cutting back their food prior to going away, aren't they gonna be even more hungry?

 

[piranha_tim]

I believe the average fish ... if you want them week and useless can live around 3 1/2 weeks without food.

They will become motionless and growth will be effected.

This is not advise this is just what I read ... Never do it.

 

[Gatorbait]

I've made my S. rhombeus (black piranha) go for about a month and a half without eating to try and wean him from eating live foods. Even then, I was the one who gave in and not him.

5 days is nothing for a fish to go without foods. I make mine go 5-7 days without foods a couple times a year.

If you're leaving don't slow down on the foods, feed more and lower your tank temp a bit and do a large wc the day before leaving and you'll be fine.

 

[OldMan47]

Adult fish can easily go 5 days without feeding and be healthy when you return. A mix of adults and fry resulted in no fry when I left them for 2 weeks with only a vacation feeder. The vacation feeeder was almost untouched, so that's how much good it did to have it. I suspect the adults got hungry and the fry were not fast enough.
Many fry need feeding more than once a day if they are to grow and prosper so for them a period of no feeding can be fatal.

 

[aaronnorth]

Thanks for the replies, my profile is out of date, i'll have to update, current tanks:

180l

3 x 4" psuedotropheus crabbro
2 x 2" Astatotilapia latifaciata

60l - all fish inhabitants are maximum size

15+ x endlers
4 x ottos
15+ x red cherry shrimp


I can put in a few tablets to keep the small ones going.

I'll also just carry on with feeding what i usually do then

Thanks guys, looks like i won

 

[Dorkhedeos]

I say 2 weeks no problem.

 

[jourdy288]

The ottos may not survive.

The ottos may not survive. I'd only give them a week without food.

 

[dthoffsett]

Your cichlids will definately be fine, remember mouthbrooder females go up to a month without eating when holding, so 2 weeks would be a breeze.

I too would be a little more concerned with the endlers because they are so small, 5 days should be ok, if you are going to be gone longer, finding someone willing to stop by once or twice and add a pre-portioned amount of food should get them through until you are back.

 

[Straydum]

it depends on how often the fishes are fed, their size and species. i can't see how guppies can go two weeks and look the same as before as compared to bichirs and so.

 

[aaronnorth]

the 60l is a heavily planted tank so they can graze on the plants, my neighbour is back after 5 days and will be feeding all of them the remainder 9 days.

all fish are fed twice a day (am & pm) in what they can eat in a minute.