Going Out Of Town, Feeding Fish While Away?

[pandaq]

I'm going to go see family across the country and I'll be gone for 4 days, should I have someone come by and feed my fish while I'm away or will they be okay for a few days? I don't have an auto feeder, and I won't have time to get one before we leave, what should I do?

I have a 29 gallon with 6 phantom tetras, 2 small mollies, and a betta. I usually just give a pinch of flakes in the morning, and bloodworms 2 times a week in the evening as a treat. Tank has been cycled for a few months, and parameters have been totally steady for a long time.

If it matters, I do 15% changes 2x a week, gravel vac 1x a month and rinse off my media 2x a month in tank water just to remove large particles. No algae or disease or anything.

Thank you in advance! I just want to come home to happy fish! I'm nervous about leaving them haha.

 

[Skins]

I'm going to go see family across the country and I'll be gone for 4 days, should I have someone come by and feed my fish while I'm away or will they be okay for a few days? I don't have an auto feeder, and I won't have time to get one before we leave, what should I do?

I have a 29 gallon with 6 phantom tetras, 2 small mollies, and a betta. I usually just give a pinch of flakes in the morning, and bloodworms 2 times a week in the evening as a treat. Tank has been cycled for a few months, and parameters have been totally steady for a long time.

If it matters, I do 15% changes 2x a week, gravel vac 1x a month and rinse off my media 2x a month in tank water just to remove large particles. No algae or disease or anything.

Thank you in advance! I just want to come home to happy fish! I'm nervous about leaving them haha.

In my opinion if you can get a friend to feed your fish then leave the four day amounts in some little containers so there is no chance of overfeeding.

Keith.

 

[symon_say]

Fish will handle fine without food, for those few days.

 

[Gvilleguy]

I agree - if you can't find someone they should be okay - but if you CAN find someone, even if they can only come and feed once - that would help.

 

[notg2009]

I'm going to go see family across the country and I'll be gone for 4 days, should I have someone come by and feed my fish while I'm away or will they be okay for a few days? I don't have an auto feeder, and I won't have time to get one before we leave, what should I do?

I have a 29 gallon with 6 phantom tetras, 2 small mollies, and a betta. I usually just give a pinch of flakes in the morning, and bloodworms 2 times a week in the evening as a treat. Tank has been cycled for a few months, and parameters have been totally steady for a long time.

If it matters, I do 15% changes 2x a week, gravel vac 1x a month and rinse off my media 2x a month in tank water just to remove large particles. No algae or disease or anything.

Thank you in advance! I just want to come home to happy fish! I'm nervous about leaving them haha.

I don't know if you have time to grab one from lfs but I've seen these food blocks that should feed for some days (usually 7 days). This is actually what I saw at my lfs: http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753999&lmdn=Fish
Haven't tried these myself, so can't comment on those.

have a safe trip

 

[Sharpy14]

Just give em a Decent size feed before you go and they should be cool.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'm going to go see family across the country and I'll be gone for 4 days, should I have someone come by and feed my fish while I'm away or will they be okay for a few days? I don't have an auto feeder, and I won't have time to get one before we leave, what should I do?

I have a 29 gallon with 6 phantom tetras, 2 small mollies, and a betta. I usually just give a pinch of flakes in the morning, and bloodworms 2 times a week in the evening as a treat. Tank has been cycled for a few months, and parameters have been totally steady for a long time.

If it matters, I do 15% changes 2x a week, gravel vac 1x a month and rinse off my media 2x a month in tank water just to remove large particles. No algae or disease or anything.

Thank you in advance! I just want to come home to happy fish! I'm nervous about leaving them haha.

I don't know if you have time to grab one from lfs but I've seen these food blocks that should feed for some days (usually 7 days). This is actually what I saw at my lfs: http/www.petsmart....53999&lmdn=Fish
Haven't tried these myself, so can't comment on those.

have a safe trip

I would NOT use these blocks ... I tried them over the Christmas holiday while we were gone for three days. They were completely untouched and appeared to be mouldy. The fish were just fine, though admittedly hungry, when we came home. I'll not be using those food cakes ever again. I think leaving the fish to fend for themselves for a few days is fine, otherwise finding a friend who will feed them while you're away is good. Just measure out the daily amounts in separate containers, or better yet, just have the friend come once in the middle of your absence.

 

[Tolak]

Healthy adult fish can go for 2 weeks without eating. I wouldn't worry about 4 days, I've fasted fish for this long before bagging for an auction or swap, with no problems at all.

 

[BigTom]

Aye, don't go bunging any nasty slow release feeders or anything in, just feed as normal before you leave and they'll be fine.

 

[OldMan47]

I must agree with Tolak. A short time like 4 days without feeding your fish will mean almost nothing. If you have tons of fry, like I often do, you may lose a few to predation as the fish become hungry, but that does not mean your fish will suffer much from hunger.

 

[Mogs26]

I tried the gel feeders (from P@H) and they say they don't stuff up your water parameters like the chalk ones (my water was fine)! The fish loved it and were fine when I got back-you can leave the pot in, but I took it out. I think it was made by tetra if my memory serves me right
Carole x
Update: I did a google search and it was called tetramin vacation-they do a 2 week version and a 5 day one that I know of

 

[pandaq]

Thanks everyone!

I only have one person who I would trust to come over while i'm gone, but it turns out she will be out of town also those days, so it looks like my fish will get a nice sized breakfast and their evening bloodworm snack the night before I leave...hopefully they will all be okay! I have 2 juvi tetras in my tank, but they are big enough not to be snacks for anyone else in the tank, so hopefully they will manage okay...I feed pretty sparingly, but my fish are still pretty healthy and plump
I was worried about them starving if I didn't feed and a maybe an ammonia spike if I left feeding up to something/anyone else...

I never thought I'd be so worried about leaving my fish! LOL

 

[Skins]

Thanks everyone!

I only have one person who I would trust to come over while i'm gone, but it turns out she will be out of town also those days, so it looks like my fish will get a nice sized breakfast and their evening bloodworm snack the night before I leave...hopefully they will all be okay! I have 2 juvi tetras in my tank, but they are big enough not to be snacks for anyone else in the tank, so hopefully they will manage okay...I feed pretty sparingly, but my fish are still pretty healthy and plump
I was worried about them starving if I didn't feed and a maybe an ammonia spike if I left feeding up to something/anyone else...

I never thought I'd be so worried about leaving my fish! LOL

I'm sure they will be fine, enjoy your break.

Keith.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with Tolak and OM47 and many of the others, I find that two weeks without food is about my psychological limit (mine, not the fishes probably, lol) even though there are experienced members on TFF who have claimed 3 weeks is ok.

Personally, I like to think of vacations as an opportunity for me to give a young person (upper grade school is my favorite) in the neighborhood a chance to be introduced to tropical fish and to some responsibility and money earning. I have lots of neighbors who I trust and for the younger kids the parents often help out. It's flexible in that an occasional feeding is about as good as a daily one but keeping my plant ferts more on schedule is a benefit I like.

When I can't get anyone though I don't worry too much about the fish, they handle it just fine. I agree that the white block feeders have been known to cause some hardness/pH changes that people don't like, and mechanical feeders can have the occasional problem. Human feeders most often overfeed, so the small plastic bag idea is good.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Gilli]

You only gravel vac once a month? So you have a months worth of uneaten food and poo in your tank - thats very bad. You should have a thorough gravel vac at least once a week.

Also you are rinsing your filter media too much! Only rinse it approx once a month or when your filter flow lessens indicating blockages. Are your water stats good?