going away

[GSD]

ok i have a quick question!

im going on holiday(to florida )soon and im just wondering about my fish.I can get someone to come and look after them but would it be better to get a feeding block thing.and will they be ok for just over 2 weeks without a water change.....

 

[TF Keeper UK]

When I went away for a week i did a water change and gravel clean on both tanks. I did use vacation feeding blocks. When I came back no flaoters or sinkers!

Did another water change.

Florida eh? Lucky for some! Have a great time!

 

[GSD]

thanks TF!!!!!

 

[CFC]

Dont use feeder blocks, these are primarily a binder (plaster of paris is commonly used) and can play havock with water quality. Adult fish can easily go two weeks without food and are best left as such when going away, more fish are killed from over feeding than have ever starved to death. Just set all the lights on timers, give all the tanks a 50% water change and clean all the filters two days before you go away and and they will be fine.

 

[morgan]

Sorry to disagree Cfc, I have just come back after two weeks. I used an automatic feeder with some pellets and two holiday blocks. Everything was fine, no clogged filters. Perhaps it depends on what filters you have? I have a Juwel internal filter. I also used a timer switch for the lights. I set it all up two days before I went to test it. I also did a 20% water change a day before I went and the same 2 days after I got back.

 

[CFC]

Well i'm glad you had a good experience using holiday blocks but for the most part they cause more trouble than they are worth. Any experienced fishkeeper will tell you that adult fish are fine to be left for long periods without food, but how you keep your own fish is up to you.

 

[debiasir]

i am going away tomorrow for 7 days so this is what i have done so far and will be doing.

1) Just given the tanks a large gravel vac / water change.
2) cos i have two tanks that need feeding i have got to sterilised ice cub trays and measured out food in to seperate compartments for each day *covered the trays in tin foil. so the person who is gonna be feeding the fish can not feed to much.
3) when i get back i will do another huge water change on each tank and hopefully everything will be ship shape

 

[qwikimpss]

Florida's getting hammered by a hurricane right now as I type this so it may not be as nice as it normally is there, what part of Florida?

 

[GSD]

disneyland!!!
thanks
im not sure im gonna use a block thingy
i think i might just ask someone to drop a bloodworm cube in every few days.
they they cant put too much flakes in

 

[debiasir]

disneyland!!!
thanks
im not sure im gonna use a block thingy
i think i might just ask someone to drop a bloodworm cube in every few days.
they they cant put too much flakes in

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see my post above. should help someone not to over feed

 

[yvez9]

my friend went away for about 10 days earlier this summer

i would go every 2-3 days to feed the fish and we did one water change for her bettas. of course she knew we knew what we were doing so no prob there.

just get someone to come by once in a while and feed them.

if they go every 2-3 days, it doesn't matter as much if they feed a little too much then

 

[Fella]

Some of the best advice I've heard about getting your neighbours to feed fish correctly is hide your food, and label an envelope for each day you're away. For that day, fill the envelope with the correct amount of food.

 

[GSD]

thanks
hopefully shell be able to put the right amount of food in!
ill try the envalope or ice cube tray idea..
theyll have to do without a water change for 2 weeks though

 

[Angel Lady]

I agree with CFC on this one he knows what he is talking about. Those feeder blocks arent nothing but trouble. I have always listen to him and took his advice and always had very good luck with the out come. Have any of you guys took a good look at some of his pictures, if you havent I would advise you to do so before you dispute something else he says to do. Now I am not saying he is perfect but I am saying he knows what he is talking about. And by the way I hope you have a good time in Florida. Show us some pictures...

 

[morgan]

I don't dispute that some people may have had trouble with feeding blocks, but I truly didn't. I was worried though after reading about negative experiences! I had no choice but to risk it as I live in a rural area in an alarmed house so nobody could come in. Anyway all was fine and I will do the same next time.