Holiday

[princess-lozza]

Hey guys,
I'm not sure if this exact question has already been posted before or not, but i did try searching for it and didn't find info specific to my fishes and stuff. Sorry if it has.

I know i shouldn't be going away and leaving my fishes but i am, for 2 weeks and am going to be leaving my tank all alone (i don't trust the neighbours) lol. The only people i trust are my boyfriend's parents, who live an hour train ride away. Im considering whether the journey would be more stressful than leaving them in a dirty tank for 2 weeks. What do you think? There's only 2 female platy's in it and it's a 21 litre tank, with a 'stingray' filter. Im considering changing the filter media before i go away anyways. Oh and an airator (don't know if that makes any difference)lol

I was wondering what way of feeding them you guys recommend; the blocks or the automatic feeders? If im leaving the tank for 2 weeks, without changing any of the water, would the blocks be a really bad idea? I also read about giving them brine shrimp before i leave, (how much and where do you get them from) to keep them busy and fed for a few days.

Any comments or help you can provide me about how you left/ would leave your fishtanks would be gratefully accepted.

Thanks

 

[adamgreen240]

the blocks are rubbish , mostly plaster which will pollute the water. Personnaly i would get the Automatic feeder and i think if you do a water change before you go and when you get back i think you will b ok.

Adam

 

[pauly]

I'd agree with Adam. Do a fairly big water change and good maintenance as late as possible before you go and as soon as possible when you get back, your fish should be fine with an automatic.

Have a nice hols, where you off to nice?

 

[luque]

Im considering changing the filter media before i go away anyways.

Don't change the filter media just wash it in the tank water before you go

 

[bugsy66]

I am leaving on holidays too. Hubby and I travel alot and what I do is:

Do a water change before I leave and check all filters and equipment are fine.

Our boys do all the feeding and they don't know the first thing about fish. What I do is to use the empty camera film containers and put the right amount of food in there for each feeding. All they have to do is open the lid and dump the food. I have never come back to a disaster yet. I also have a Saltwater tank too that they look after.

Water is ready for top ups and all works just great, they check that the temp is what I told them and the filters are running good.

Hope this helps you out a bit.

If you don't want anyone coming to your place I would go the automatic feed route. They will be fine for 2 weeks. Do a water change before you go.

 

[backtotropical]

I personally wouldn't bother feeding them at all. Feed one and a half times what you usually would for 1 week before you go away. On the day you leave, do a 50% water change and make sure all equipment is working correctly and that the filter media is clean (don't change it or you'll kill your fish, just clean it in tank water, not under the tap). Feed well and off you go on holiday.

The fish will be fine for 2 weeks with no food. Automatic feeders are not reliable and as said the blocks will just pollute your tank. Seems cruel, but really they'll be fine.

One thing, when you come back, don't just go straight back to feeding as usual. Feed 1/4 of usual amount for a few days, then raise it to 1/2 normal amount for a few days, keep increasing it gradually until feeding normally again.

This will ensure that you don't suffer any ammonia spikes as the filter won't be used to the level of waste.

Hope this helps.

BTT

 

[Tolak]

I personally wouldn't bother feeding them at all. Feed one and a half times what you usually would for 1 week before you go away. On the day you leave, do a 50% water change and make sure all equipment is working correctly and that the filter media is clean (don't change it or you'll kill your fish, just clean it in tank water, not under the tap). Feed well and off you go on holiday.

The fish will be fine for 2 weeks with no food. Automatic feeders are not reliable and as said the blocks will just pollute your tank. Seems cruel, but really they'll be fine.

One thing, when you come back, don't just go straight back to feeding as usual. Feed 1/4 of usual amount for a few days, then raise it to 1/2 normal amount for a few days, keep increasing it gradually until feeding normally again.

This will ensure that you don't suffer any ammonia spikes as the filter won't be used to the level of waste.

Hope this helps.

BTT

That's the way to do it!

 

[vinylman]

If you feel you absolutely can't leave them for two weeks, Tetra have a new holiday feeder which contains food in a (very) slowly dissolving edible gel - much better than the traditional feeder blocks that are actually held together with plaster; not good for your fish or the water. But you can believe what everyone else says, it won't hurt to leave them. It's much harder to starve a fish than feed it to death. Do a water change a couple of days before you go (just make sure everything's working fine before you go) and, most importantly, enjoy your hols.

 

[kribensis12]

If you do want a Block Feeder. Use a Tetra Gel Feeder, They are like 2 dollar's, and dont pollute the water, i tested it!

 

[princess-lozza]

thank you so much for all the advice im going to the domincan republic and i cant wait to see the fishes near the coral again. i may leave them without and give them a little extra before i go. your all very useful and im very thankful for the replies
from lozza
XX

 

[princess-lozza]

Heya
Just to let you know i went away after doing a big water change and left them for 2 and a half weeks without anything. When i came back they were still alive- a little slow (but how slow would you be without food for 2 weeks!!). After a few days they went back to normal and now every thing's good.
Thanks everyone!!