Holiday Feeding Blocks

[fish.com1]

Hi my tank has been set up for about a month now and i'm going on holiday for two weeks. Were getting someone to come in after a week to check the fish are ok but the fish obviously need feeding. I was wondering which feeding blocks are the best for two weeks or for one week. Also is there anything i need to do to the tank before i go on holiday?

Thanks.

 

[kribensis12]

Okay. I am only asking this as your tank has been up for a month and your a newbie ( just precautionary). How big is your tank? How many fish and what kinds are in it? Okay, now i do not trust feeders at all because they dissolve in the water and kill the fish. But there is one i will use if i need to. It is called the TetraMin Gel Block( something like that). It is about 3 dollars at your lfs ( E 1.5) . Instead of dissolveing, there are flakes bonded to the gel. So, the fish pick at the gel and they get the flakes. I've used them and they are the only one i recommend.

 

[fish.com1]

Hi thanks for repyling.

my tank is a juwel 96 and holds 96 litres of water. It is 81cm long, 31cm width and 36cm high. At the moment i have 5 lemon tetras about 2 - 3cm in length. They are very hardy and robust fish. Also when i was reading another post, it said the fish will last without food for a week if they need to. is this true? which would i be better doing - putting a holiday block in, or getting someone to come in halfway through (as in the first post).

Thanks everyone.

 

[kribensis12]

Fish can last w/o food for a week, and depending ont he fish, longer. Your tank sounds fine as far as stocking.

 

[backtotropical]

I wouldn't bother with feeding blocks at all to be honest. They are a liability.

Your fish will be fine for 2 weeks with no food. If you can get someone to come in and feed them half way through, all the better, but if not they will still be fine.

If you do get assistance, make sure they don't overfeed the fish. It is always a good idea to leave a pre-measured amount of food for your fish-feeder, and hide your other fish food. People with no experience tend to want to overfeed fish as a treat. Unfortunately, it can kill them.

Good luck!

BTT

 

[fish.com1]

Thanks for the advice everybody.

I can get someone to come in halfway through the two weeks, and feed them. Will they also need to do a water change, or should it be ok if i do one before i go. Will lemon tetras be alright for a week without food? Most of the posts say they will be.

Thanks everyone.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Do a water change before you go, make sure whoever comes in only gives them a little bit of food and do another water change when you get back. The bioload is low, as long as they don't put loads of food in it will be fine.

 

[kingmed]

When I went away for 2 and half weeks I got a 7 day long plastic pill case that holds pills for each day and put alittle food or what I normally feed the fish at a serving then I had my friend come and feed my fish every 3 to 4 days. When I got home it was if nothing had changed and the fish were great + they were not overfed, it's also wise to right down instructions on a sheet of paper for the person ffeeding your fish.

 

[tangokitty]

Unless it is a fish wise friend i would not trust them to do a water change for you. Just do a large water change before you leave and a large one when you get back. how often do you change the water as it is? If it is every week, then just change double the amount that you would for a week. And defiantly premeasure the food! Nothing worse the some well meaning friend accidentally killing your fish while your away. (or any other pet for that matter!) (On a related note, a friend of mine killed my pet rabbit when I was on vacation by feeding it large amounts of Ice Burg lettuce and causing massive Diarrhea! Poor bunny didn't stand a chance, but they meant well....Thought they were giving it a treat!!)