Going Away, Should I Feed The Fish?

[MichelleAntoinette]

I'm away for five days, I've only had my fish in the tank for two weeks after completing a fishless cycle over four weeks. They are young fish, seven small tetras (I'm only half stocked). I can feed them on Monday but I won't be back until late on Friday. Will they be okay without food for four days?

I've heard bad things about block feeders and I can't leave the lid off for one of those auto feeders (small tank - only 28l with an intergrated light and a snail that likes to roam!). So would leaving these small fish without food for four days be okay?

Thanks for any thoughts....

 

[gforce17]

I asked the same question when I first started and I was advised that fish can manage for at least a week without food. Blocks can pollute the water. I think you'd be ok leaving them for 5 days. Don't put extra food in when you go ( I did out of guilt) because they won't eat it all and it will pollute the water. Have a great time and don't worry about them!

 

[Lateral Line]

They'll be fine, don't do anything special for such a short excursion. Doing so invites all kinds of issues.

 

[MichelleAntoinette]

Thanks for the response. I'm just worried because these are not adult full size fish. I feel terrible to leave them so soon after getting them but I've heard they can go a week without food too.

Oh well, we'll see what happens...

 

[Joshwainwright]

Thy will be fine, don't worry and enjoy yourself
Just feed them when you leave and when you get back

 

[OldMan47]

Don't worry about your fish MichelleAntoinette. They will be fine for a few days without feeding. I have left my fish for as long as 2 weeks without feeding and they did just fine. The fry that were dropped during that time became fish food though.