Best Fish For Leaving Alone

[BENCHMARKMAN]

I'm thinking about trying to keep a fish again with a 1 - 2.5 gallon aquarium. My main concern is the ability to be able to leave the fish alone for 5 - 10 days and not come home and have it dead. What are the best fish that have the ability to be alone, of course with plenty of food/heat/light, for up to 10 days? I know the best option would be to have somebody take care of the fish but this is not an option so please don't suggest that. I also want to mention that I'm not a cruel person and this is not something I want to do but will probably need to be done once or twic eever 12-18 months due to my job.

Are there any varieties of fish that travel well?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ben M]

TBH, I wouldn't put any fish in that. 2.5 gal isn't really big enough for any fish, maybe a couple of shrimp, but that's as far as I'd go. If you want to keep fish, I'd get the biggest tank you can afford, but anything of 40l+ is fine for a dozen little fish and some shrimp.

As for leaving them, as long as the fish are well cared for while you are there, and have decent filtration and regular water changes then they will be fine for up to 2 weeks alone without food.

cheers

 

[fluttermoth]

Well feed fish, in a properly cycled tank, can easily go for two weeks without food, as long as it's not too frequently, so once or twice a yis not a problem.

I'm more concerned with the tank size you're thinking of; it's far, far too small. I wouldn't keep any fish in a tank that size; it's really only good for shrimp. It also wouldn't work to leave a tank that size on it's own; that volume of water would be too unstable to leave alone for any length of time.

No fish travel well; yes, you can move house with them, and they're imported into foreign countires, but it's always stressful for the fish and carries a certain amount of risk.

 

[Miles_hot]

The thing with a smaller tank is that it's temps will be more in tune with the environment and so will fluctuate more, it's smaller volume also means that mini cycles / chemical variations will be more pronounced and rapid. Thus if you're looking for a strong, fault tolerant tank I'd go for one heck of a lot more than 8 pints!

I'm surprised that the fish can go for 2 weeks without food - that's a #41#### sight more than I can If that worries you in any way you can of course get some pretty smart automatic feeders...

Miles

 

[Caprichoso]

Tank is too small for fish imo but fine for dwarf shrimp. If it's established and planted you can safely leave town and not have to worry about feeding shrimp for a couple of weeks. I wouldn't do that with fish personally.

Good luck

 

[BENCHMARKMAN]

Thanks for all the replies. If that tank is too small why do all the pet stores advertise bettas and gold fish in 1 gallon tanks? 2.5 gallons is 250% larger than they suggest. Also in my previous attempts I had bettas that lived just fine in 1 gallon tanks, but died when I had to leave them for a week

 

[Ben M]

It's ridiculous that fish shops sell tiny tanks, but if they can make a profit, they'll do it.

Here is a good link to have a look at: http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=4061&utm_source=PFK_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=June_24_2011&utm_term=Fishkeeping_myths_that_just_refuse_to_die&utm_content=html

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm surprised that the fish can go for 2 weeks without food - that's a #41#### sight more than I can If that worries you in any way you can of course get some pretty smart automatic feeders...

Miles

That's because you're warm-blooded and fish aren't; nearly every calorie you consume goes to either keeping you warm or running that big, mammalian brain of yours

Fish don't have either of those 'expenses', plus they have a completely different metabolism, that's why they can go for so long without eating.

I would never, ever suggest the use of those automatic feeders, personally. I've heard too many stories of them malfunctioning and dumping in too much food, or letting the food get damp and rot before it goes in. There's also the fact that if you're not there to be doing the regular water changes then you don't want the fish producing too much waste.

You're far better off having a fairly low stocking, plenty of filtration and lots of live plants.

Thanks for all the replies. If that tank is too small why do all the pet stores advertise bettas and gold fish in 1 gallon tanks? 2.5 gallons is 250% larger than they suggest. Also in my previous attempts I had bettas that lived just fine in 1 gallon tanks, but died when I had to leave them for a week

Because they can and because it makes them a quick buck They don't seem to think that the average person can cope with the principles or understand the science of a fish-in cycle or have the patience for a fishless; they seem to think all people just wander round in a haze of ignorance and don't care if the fish live or die; it's like they think of them as being akin to cut flowers; you buy them, they look beautiful and colourful for a week and then they die, you throw them away and get more, fresh ones...

They very fact that your bettas died when left alone for a week proves that they weren't fine at all; you were just barely managing to keep them alive, as the minute you stopped working at it, the fish died.

I'd be quite confident leaving all my tanks for a fortnight; as long as the power stayed on for my heaters and filters I know my fish would be fine, because the tanks are set-up to be a proper enviroment/life support system.

It's perfectly possible to have a tank that can be left; it just needs to be larger than the one you're thinking of now

 

[Miles_hot]

I'm surprised that the fish can go for 2 weeks without food - that's a #41#### sight more than I can If that worries you in any way you can of course get some pretty smart automatic feeders...

Miles

That's because you're warm-blooded and fish aren't; nearly every calorie you consume goes to either keeping you warm or running that big, mammalian brain of yours

ohh, you say the nicest things - big brain eh?

Miles

 

[fluttermoth]

ohh, you say the nicest things - big brain eh?

Miles

Of course, you're a member here and a fishkeeper, aren't you? Obviously you're only one step away fron genius

 

[Miles_hot]

Did I mention I've got huge great long legs?

 

[fluttermoth]

Did I mention I've got huge great long legs?

Lol; is that relevant? Apart from if your tanks ar on massivley high stands?!

 

[Miles_hot]

Did I mention I've got huge great long legs?

Lol; is that relevant? Apart from if your tanks ar on massivley high stands?!

I didn't want anyone to think that I was a short step from greatness I'm a darn long way from it

 

[fluttermoth]