Feeding Fish While On Holiday

[rousell]

I'm due to go on holiday for a week this Friday and I'm just wondering what's the best thing to do in regards to keeping my fish fed while im away. I've been reading up and it seems a lot of people just tend to leave them without food for up to a week. The thought of doing that is pretty daunting. I don't want to get back after a week and find my beloved fish floating around. I can get a friend to come and feed them but as much as I trust my friend, I dont really want anybody in the house while I'm gone.
Would I need to alter the lighting timings or would it be safe just to leave everything how it is. I was planning on doing a 50% water change before I go. Does anybody have any ideas?
Cheers

 

[Blitz]

Would I need to alter the lighting timings or would it be safe just to leave everything how it is
I think it'll be safe to leave everything how it is. Not sure though, I'm not an expert. You don't trust your friend doing the daily water changes for you? IF you don't, then yes, you should do a 50% water change. But you don't trust your friend to do them for you?

 

[rousell]

Would I need to alter the lighting timings or would it be safe just to leave everything how it is
I think it'll be safe to leave everything how it is. Not sure though, I'm not an expert. You don't trust your friend doing the daily water changes for you? IF you don't, then yes, you should do a 50% water change. But you don't trust your friend to do them for you?

Daily water changers? I don't understand

 

[fishprotector]

If it is a cycled tank and running along smoothly then I would leave things as they are and enjoy your holidays. As you say, water change and last feed before you go and they will be ok for a week. I have left mine for nearly ten days in the past and they were fine.

Edit, the above will be ok for a normal community tank.

 

[rousell]

Ok thanks. The tank is a community tank and is fully cycled.
I've got 6 bronze corydoras, 6 pentazona barb, 2 golden gourami (dwarf) and a blue gourami.
My only worry is for my blue gourami. He tends to like his food and nearly takes my arm off when im feeding him.

 

[Geordiehc]

Am i going to have to cancel my 2 week holiday now? lol

 

[fishprotector]

Yep lol did they not mention that you are no longer allowed a nice long holiday in the shop when you bought the fish?

I'm sure two weeks would be ok, but I would have to get someone to feed mine as I would feel sorry for them

 

[Geordiehc]

Yep lol did they not mention that you are no longer allowed a nice long holiday in the shop when you bought the fish?

I'm sure two weeks would be ok, but I would have to get someone to feed mine as I would feel sorry for them

i read on another post that live food is good for holidays, jsut so happens iv got a cyclops culture so i dont htink food is gonna be a problem lol, its sjut the water changes and lighting

 

[fishprotector]

Get a timer for the lighting. I use them as standard on all my tanks anyway. If it is a cycled tank then it should be ok for two weeks without a water change. Just do one the night before you go.

Not heard of a live food culture living in the same tank, my fish would eat it straight away lol.

 

[fluttermoth]

Because you're not there to do water changes, you want to keep the ammonia produced to a minimum, so they're better off not being fed while you're away.

If you can't get timer for your lights (they are cheap though) then leave them off.