Fish-sitting

[MtbGirl]

I was just wondering... what do all of you do with your fish when you go on vacation?? Obviously you can't bring them along, so how do you ensure they are taken care of with regards to feeding, changing the water, etc etc.

I'm not going anywhere soon, but my family does like to travel and now I have fish on top of cats to think about!! For my cats I have two automatic feeders and one automatic waterer. I also have an automatic litterbox and two regular litterboxes.

Of course friends & family & neighbors could be an option, but what if they're not available during your vacation?? I just wanted to hear your experiences and advice. Thanks!!

 

[jayjay]

Water changing isn't a problem really as you won't be on holiday for too long? Automatic feeders are an option but not all dose how much food to give and over feed the tank so you will have to test it if you buy one. A timer on the lighting and that's about it. Oh and a water change before you leave.

 

[MtbGirl]

Yes, the water change before we leave makes sense. Normally we're away 10 days, sometimes 3-day weekends. I guess if we ever plan a month-long trip to Europe we'll have something to worry about.

I didn't know they made automatic fish feeders, that's great!! Didn't think about the lighting either. Thanks, now I know what we need to consider next time we go away.

 

[businesslamb]

Hi,
I measure out food into labelled pots and the neighbour tips them in each day and the lights are on a timer anyway. no water change for a couple of weeks isn't really an issue. No problems so far.

Cheers

businesslamb

 

[PaulEbs]

You can buy Holiday blocks of food for your fish - although I've never researched how effective they actually are, and have never liked the idea of putting a white fizzy block in the tank.

For the 3 day weekend breaks, why not put some fresh veg in the tank? Depending on what fish you have, it should last a couple of days - and keeps them fed.

Paul.

 

[jayjay]

white fizzy block

It's made of plaster of paris, not something i'd use. JUst thought i'd say

 

[MtbGirl]

For the 3 day weekend breaks, why not put some fresh veg in the tank? Depending on what fish you have, it should last a couple of days - and keeps them fed.

Paul.

Hmm... the fish are listed in my siggy... would lettuce and/or cucumber be good for these fish?? Also, how much of the veggies would I put in?? I don't want to overfeed them.

 

[Tolak]

I don't go on vacation. Try to get someone to take care of 16 tanks every day.















I have my kids (24 & 25 y.o.) toss some flakes in each tank daily. I plan ahead so no spawns are pulled for a couple of months before, so no daily bbs routine to deal with. Another breeder & I have an emergency plan in place, in the event something comes up where we have to be away for a while on short notice. We cover for each other's setups.

If you are only going away for a week or so, and have adult fish, they will be fine not eating for a week. If you have younger fish, or will be away for an extended period, use one of those pill packs with a compartment for each day of the week for someone else to feed. I'm not about to buy 16 pill packs, I tape the proper amount of food for a day to a card as an example for each tank. My kids know less is better than more.

 

[MtbGirl]

If you are only going away for a week or so, and have adult fish, they will be fine not eating for a week. If you have younger fish, or will be away for an extended period, use one of those pill packs with a compartment for each day of the week for someone else to feed.

Thank you, that's a great suggestion if we are actually able to have someone look after the fish on a daily basis.

 

[deni]

I tried one of those plaster of Paris feeder things once, and only once. It made an awful mess and left everything in the tank smothered in yukky green algae that took ages to get rid of, had to do a few major water changes too to stablise the tank again. Now I just leave a few labelled pots or envelopes of food for a neighbour to put in every few days. They're all adult fish so don't necessarily need feeding every day. Incidently, when I first asked our neighbours if they'd look after our gang, found out the hubbie used to keep fish too! Now he and his wife often have meals with us and us with them, and we talk about . . . fish!

 

[wodesorel]

Veggies left in warm water for more than 24 hours get funky really fast - they smell awful and grow algea. (I have snails, so there's always something fresh/cooked in my tanks.)

 

[CBTF]

For the last trip we took, the neighbors would come daily and give the cats food and water, along with tending to the fish tanks.

 

[PaulEbs]

Veggies left in warm water for more than 24 hours get funky really fast - they smell awful and grow algea. (I have snails, so there's always something fresh/cooked in my tanks.)

granted, but that's not the case with all types of veg.

I find I can leave a piece of cucumber in the tank for atleast 3 days before it starts to show signs of 'messing upthe tank'.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i'm going for the most sensible option when i go away next week............. leaving Ian at home to look after the tanks and cat

just going down to see my family down south for a few days, he can't get the time off work so my fishys are in safe hands!

most of the tanks i wouldn't mind leaving for a week, just the 2 biggest one's i'd set up automatic feeders on.

don't use those feeding blocks they just dump a load of rubbish into your water and will mess up your water condition when your not there to think about it.

might be a good idea if there isn't one already for someone to do a comprehensive pinned topic about going on holiday. how to cope if you have/haven't got someone to come in, advice on different types of feeding blocks and automatic feeders etc?

 

[highfire]

I have just today returned from a fortnight away on vacation.
In preparation I did a whole tank clean and polish - water change, filter clean, etc.... two days before I went away.
Then while I was away my neighbour came in every day to pop the food in - I have put 14 little egg cups of food out on a shelf, with just enough in for each day. I have a timer switch on for the lights, and that has worked beautifully.
When I came home today, the first thing I did was put the coffee machine on and then go and see my fish. Apart from a little algea here and there, the tank looks fine - and they have all grown so much in two weeks!