Holidays

[CrystalClear16]

It is a week, the fish will be fine, I only feed mine when I remember, after all do you think they get fed it on a plate in the wild? No.

No, but they have now lived for a few years being fed in a routine. Wouldn't it be unfair or stressful for that to suddenly change?

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

My parents look after my fish if I am away; if we all happen to be away, my neighbour kindly overfeeds them for me lol. They get a good clean before I go and a good clean when I come back (from the over feeding).

 

[commoncarp]

I bought an automatic fish feeder, it was a bargain normally £30 but picked up for a fiver in my local pet store on sale, It works great feeds the fish twice a day but you can feed upto x4 times a day, left the fish for a week and not had any problems, but what I would suggest is connecting an air pump to the automatic feeder as the flakes will get condensation without it and the flakes just stick to the feeder, I would suggest testing it out a few days before you leave for your holidays. Those pyramids are rubbish go for a feeder, I wouldn't feel safe leaving my fish for a week without feeding them. I am going away this weekend and will be soon setting it up.

 

[saz326]

I have always done my last maintainance at least 2 days before going away and I start using my automatic feeder a week in advance so that I can monitor the food usage.

Id never do any maintainance the day before leaving incase of upsetting the balance and risking killing the filter etc. That would not be a good thing if you're going away.

When feeding with the automatic feeder you can also put some fresh/frozen food in the tank manually to ensure everyone is happy - But NEVER feed up the fish the last days before leaving as when you finally walk out the door the tank will be full of "Big poo", ready to start mucking the water up.

 

[fluvial]

I'm off for a week tomorrow and will do what I always do.
A water change the day before I go and a little more food on the last evening.
Then leave a 7 day feeder pyramid in the tank when I go.

Its worked for me every time and so far I've never had a problem with this method.

On my return I feed a little more food on the fiorst evening back - and a normal
water change the next morning having checked the water stats.

 

[Truck]

It is a week, the fish will be fine, I only feed mine when I remember, after all do you think they get fed it on a plate in the wild? No.

No, but they have now lived for a few years being fed in a routine. Wouldn't it be unfair or stressful for that to suddenly change?

Not really, fish are built to survive long periods without food.

Here are your options:
1.Leave them be and come back to some fine and healthy fish.
2.Use an autofeeder and have it dump a load of flakes into the tank
3.Use a feeding block which will essentially contaminate your tank.

 

[TheHolding]

It is a week, the fish will be fine, I only feed mine when I remember, after all do you think they get fed it on a plate in the wild? No.

No, but they have now lived for a few years being fed in a routine. Wouldn't it be unfair or stressful for that to suddenly change?

Not really, fish are built to survive long periods without food.

Here are your options:
1.Leave them be and come back to some fine and healthy fish.
2.Use an autofeeder and have it dump a load of flakes into the tank
3.Use a feeding block which will essentially contaminate your tank.

As someone else said you can program some automatic feeders.

It is up to the owner to put the amount of fish food in them, if need be you can put in a minimal amount which will prevent loads being "dumped" in as you say.

 

[Truck]

It depends on which one, the majority have preset amounts which are rather big.

 

[chrisrm]

im off to america on the 10th of june for 8 weeks, my wife is at home but im not sure she can be trusted! so im looking into companies that do tank maintenance, i think this may be the way forward i dont know how much tey charge yet though!!!