Travel Or Leave Betta Alone During The Holidays?

[BENCHMARKMAN]

I am a fairly new fisher owner, 6 months or so. During Christmas and New Years I will be visiting family for about 10 days. My first thought was that 10 days alone and without changing water would be too long for a fish. I was thinking about taking the fish with me on my travels, about 8 hours each direction in the car. I am having some second thoughts about travel with the fish too. Let me tell you about my current setup. I do have a heater for and bought a wall electrical timer that I can set to periodically turn on the filter. Over Thanksgiving I was gone for about 5 days and bought some food that you drop in the tank but when I got home the water was extremely cloudy and smelled terrible, another reason why I am worried. In your infinitely greater knowledge of fish which situation do you think is better, leave alone for 10 days or travel back and forth for 8 hours each time?

 

[Bubblenester]

I am a fairly new fisher owner, 6 months or so. During Christmas and New Years I will be visiting family for about 10 days. My first thought was that 10 days alone and without changing water would be too long for a fish. I was thinking about taking the fish with me on my travels, about 8 hours each direction in the car. I am having some second thoughts about travel with the fish too. Let me tell you about my current setup. I do have a heater for and bought a wall electrical timer that I can set to periodically turn on the filter. Over Thanksgiving I was gone for about 5 days and bought some food that you drop in the tank but when I got home the water was extremely cloudy and smelled terrible, another reason why I am worried. In your infinitely greater knowledge of fish which situation do you think is better, leave alone for 10 days or travel back and forth for 8 hours each time?

Do you just have a betta? What size is his tank?

Unless it's a really tiny tank, I think he would be better just left there alone. Change the water and give him a good meal right before you leave, then do it again as soon as you get back. If he's not eating while you're gone, he will be producing a lot less waste than usual anyway. Vacation food is terrible... all it does is pollute the water really quickly and most fish are fine without food for a few days... I doubt a betta would bother eating that stuff anyway. A betta should be able to go 10 days without food since they're not particularly active fish. Of course if you can, enlist someone to come in and feed him once or twice while you're gone, but if that's not an option he should be okay.

 

[BENCHMARKMAN]

I am a fairly new fisher owner, 6 months or so. During Christmas and New Years I will be visiting family for about 10 days. My first thought was that 10 days alone and without changing water would be too long for a fish. I was thinking about taking the fish with me on my travels, about 8 hours each direction in the car. I am having some second thoughts about travel with the fish too. Let me tell you about my current setup. I do have a heater for and bought a wall electrical timer that I can set to periodically turn on the filter. Over Thanksgiving I was gone for about 5 days and bought some food that you drop in the tank but when I got home the water was extremely cloudy and smelled terrible, another reason why I am worried. In your infinitely greater knowledge of fish which situation do you think is better, leave alone for 10 days or travel back and forth for 8 hours each time?

Do you just have a betta? What size is his tank?

Unless it's a really tiny tank, I think he would be better just left there alone. Change the water and give him a good meal right before you leave, then do it again as soon as you get back. If he's not eating while you're gone, he will be producing a lot less waste than usual anyway. Vacation food is terrible... all it does is pollute the water really quickly and most fish are fine without food for a few days... I doubt a betta would bother eating that stuff anyway. A betta should be able to go 10 days without food since they're not particularly active fish. Of course if you can, enlist someone to come in and feed him once or twice while you're gone, but if that's not an option he should be okay.

I have just one fish and I believe the tank is 3 or 5 gallons.

 

[PoptartShop]

I think he will be OK on his own.
After all, Bettas can go about a few weeks w/o food.

 

[BENCHMARKMAN]

I think he will be OK on his own.
After all, Bettas can go about a few weeks w/o food.

Help! I think you guys gave me bad advice. I got home tonight and now he only swims upside down and sideways. He also will not eat. Please what do I do now???

 

[BENCHMARKMAN]

Well I'm really pissed I listened to you guys because he died last night My Mom is never going to forgive me for this.

 

[TribeOfShroom]

Well I'm really pissed I listened to you guys because he died last night My Mom is never going to forgive me for this.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. If you don't mind me asking, but what were the water parimeters? Before and after. I know I'd rather leave my fish a couple of days w/o food rather than someone come in and overfeed them, but generally fish won't just croak for not having food for a couple of days. If you can provide details we might be able to shed some light on your unfortunate loss.

 

[Samphire]

Maybe you should look at your lifestyle choices before getting pished at people on here. You opted to travel when you have a pet that depends on you.

 

[modaz]

tbh the facts that were told were correct, the time period of 10 days wouldnt make a difference, ive left bettas for just over 2 weeks before with no death resulting ,there are a few more possible causes for you loosing your betta at this time, you dont know how old he was, if the water killed him or anything, sad lose i know, sorry you had to go thru this

samphire, go easy on this member, forums at the start are a tough ride for some people

 

[Samphire]

That was easy

 

[wuvmybetta]

The fish should have been fine without water changes and food for that long. The advice you were given was spot on. I am sorry for your loss, however. I'm curious as to his location in the house and whether or not he was kept warm enough.

 

[bugsy66]

There might have been something wrong with your betta prior to this happening but it did not show up when you were home and he was dead.

Can you go and get a new one now??