Going On Vacation For A Week

[fish-r-fancy]

Ok so I just found out yesterday that I will be leaving for Mexico on Tuesday and we will be staying in Mexico for the week. Since I found out about all of this in such short notice I have not had time to find anybody to care for my fish. I bought 2 wardley 10 day vacation feeding tablets for my 55 gallon fish tank with seven new world cichlids. Will this work? Thanks in advance

 

[ghent_3rd]

Can't see it being a problem, I have left my basic community fish, South American Tetras and catfish mainly, without food for 4/5 days while I went away and there were no problems when I returned at all. Post this in the New World section aswell, specifying your species and they will tell you for definate.

 

[Tolak]

Those vacation feeders are garbage, don't open the package and bring them back. Lie & tell them you found someone to feed them if you have to. Feeding blocks are made of plaster or a similar substance, when they dissolve they pollute the tank something horrible. Think of taking a piece of old plaster the size of that block, tossing it in your tank, and leaving it for a week. Nasty.

Healthy adult fish can easily go for a week without being fed. Feed them good for a few days before leaving, do a water change, and go enjoy your vacation. Withholding food for a week or two is a method used to enduce fish to spawn, check out this article; http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...%20seasons.html

 

[Crossfc]

They have these new gel thingie vacation feeders now. No more plaster and stuff. I wonder if they're any good.

 

[gpgscott]

Tolak is right on.

Unless you have someone who is familiar with your particular tank and how you feed these particular fish do the following.
If your tank is in good shape water params etc. turn off the light, darken the room and cover the tank so the fish think its night.
Have a good trip.

Scott

btw Tolak how come we have to be fishy something and you get to play with guns?

 

[WILDER]

I agree with tolak them feeder block are more trouble then there worth.
I would give the filter a clean before you go so it dosn't block up while you are away.

 

[Tolak]

They have these new gel thingie vacation feeders now. No more plaster and stuff. I wonder if they're any good.

I've heard they work as advertised, with little mess like the feeder blocks. One of the members here tried them before with good results, I'll be darned if I can remember who it was though.

btw Tolak how come we have to be fishy something and you get to play with guns?

You get to change that if you like once you get to somewhere around 1150 posts.

 

[Native American]

Eheim 3581 auto feeder. I have 4 of them, they work like a champ.

I've left the fishies for weeks using these things, along with timers to de-activate the filters right before the feeders turn over and drop food into the water.

Often I put enough food in them to be able to leave the tanks alone for weeks after coming back home (except for the weekly water changes...but I leave daily sunrise and sunset feedings to the machines).

v/r, N-A

 

[Gatorbait]

Those vacation feeders are garbage, don't open the package and bring them back. Lie & tell them you found someone to feed them if you have to. Feeding blocks are made of plaster or a similar substance, when they dissolve they pollute the tank something horrible. Think of taking a piece of old plaster the size of that block, tossing it in your tank, and leaving it for a week. Nasty.

Healthy adult fish can easily go for a week without being fed. Feed them good for a few days before leaving, do a water change, and go enjoy your vacation. Withholding food for a week or two is a method used to enduce fish to spawn, check out this article; http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...%20seasons.html

QFT.

I wouldn't ever use those things. You can very well come home to dead fish.

Don't worry about only going a week without feeding for mature ciclids. They can easily go 3-4 weeks without food. Feed very well 2 days before and do a large wc before you go.

 

[Torrean]

I'd get a timer for your lights. It makes thing easier while on vacation and when you get home. Plus it sets up a definite day night cycle for your fish

 

[Breeze7050]

I went away for a week and left 3 tanks - 55G, 10G 2G betta bowl - all alone in a big house lol. I kept the lights off, but didn't cover the tanks. The sunlight comes through the window so the fish had a day and night. I did a WC before leaving and one when I got home. They were not fed when I was gone and everyone was fine when I got back!
I wouldn't worry to much about it and I don't think it's necessary to go out and buy a timed feeder or the feeding blocks. Have a great trip!!

 

[fish-r-fancy]

Okay thanks everybody. I will not use the vacation feeder things and I do have a timer that I will use. Sorry that I took so long to reply I was busy packing and stuff. I'll be sure to post pics of the things that I see while scuba diving and in shark cages and stuff. Thanks so much.