I Am Going On Holiday...

[DiscusAngel]

ok, i going on holiday to the dominican republic in july, im going withmy family and no1 can feed my fish. my mum doesnt really want a stranger coming in...

so.. any suggestions, i was thinking a new tetra flake block thing for 2 weeks. would they live ok on tht ? if i fed them boodworm before i go??

Many Thanks
Cona

 

[cheesy feet]

I'm not 100% sure on this but before i have left fish with no food for 2 weeks, no probs.But I can't actually remember if i have done it with my Discus If not you could try putting live brineshrimp (rinsing them from the water they come in) in there (not guppies, as i said) for them to chase around and eat.Stilll I don't think they have a very long life expectancy in freshwater aquariums (they like saltwater or brackish).Have never used the new food block so i don't know either.Why don't you buy one and test it out for 2 weeks Shame you can't get anyone to feed them?! Anyway i'm sure someone will come along to help you lol

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Automatic feeders are good. The food blocks are okay, as long as there not plaster based.

 

[angelmouse]

i stop feeding mine 2 days before i go and do large water change, they will be fine for two weeks without food, if you can get someone to feed them a couple of times great.
without any water changes whilst you are away someone overfeeding them even just a little can be disasterous.
Angel

 

[cheesy feet]

Thought they might be ok, thanks for clearing that up angelmouse

 

[DiscusAngel]

ok, i think ill do like a 50% water change before i go anyway, and just leave them, or maybe get someone to come in after 7 days and feed them. so then the next 7 days ill feed them once i get back. or ill just experiment with these tetra flake things (not them crappy plaster things) li have also startedto feed them every 2 days, so they will not suddenly starve. thanks for clearing that up. o btw, i h8 auto mactic feeders, been told by a few people they broke and either didnt feed any food at all or, they fed all the food at once.

thanks guys

 

[angelmouse]

(not them crappy plaster things) they don't look very appertising do they.
Angel

 

[DiscusAngel]

(not them crappy plaster things) they don't look very appertising do they.
Angel

not at all appertising lmao... someone told me they have bloodworm, flake, pellets, brineshrimp and beefheart in them i laughed and said prove it.

 

[angelmouse]

not at all appertising lmao... someone told me they have bloodworm, flake, pellets, brineshrimp and beefheart in them i laughed and said prove it.
[/quote]

no way, surely not, its white

Dominican republic should be lovely, jealous, you'll have to do some snorkeling, beautiful fish under them waves
Angel

 

[Ristof]

ok, i going on holiday to the dominican republic in july, im going withmy family and no1 can feed my fish. my mum doesnt really want a stranger coming in...

so.. any suggestions, i was thinking a new tetra flake block thing for 2 weeks. would they live ok on tht ? if i fed them boodworm before i go??

Many Thanks
Cona

I have used the feeder blocks before and none of my fish seem to touch them. I was also told that most of them are more harm then good.
I say give the tank a clean and give them a good feeding the night before you go.
Then in the morning with the light still out drop a few more in there and hopfully they wont notice.

That what I do and it works.
I have had a bad experience with people feeding my fish and turtles. Massive overfeeding of both.

I wonder if you can coach your fish. Maybe if someone is going away for two weeks then don't feed your fish for two weeks before you head off to see how they go. If they survive the first 2 weeks of not being fed then they should servive the second.
I would say if someone was going to try this then make sure the experiment fishes a few weeks before you go so that they get a good feeding before you go

 

[kev_kb]

If you want to use the long lasting pellets try them well before you leave, the discus may not even touch them.

I'd avoid 50% water changes unless something bad happens! Much better IMO to do frequent smaller changes.

If you buy an auto feeder from a decent brand it should work fine, I've read good things about the Eheim feeders but never actually used them.

If you can I'd suggest getting someone to feed them every few days. You can set out small containers with each feed in to stop over feeding, and let them know before hand how expensive discus are lol. I don't think I would leave my discus two weeks without food.

 

[angelmouse]

i always thought that if they were fed and had no water changes for 2 weeks you would have problems with water quality as they produce alot of waste. i'm not sure i could trust anyone feeding my fish, am i being an overprotective fish keeper
Angel

 

[Tolak]

This is another reason why you should join a local aquatics club. Adult fish are easy, a setup with fry in various stages of growth takes some experience. I know 2 people 5 minutes away, another guy 15 minutes away, and a third about 25 minutes away that would have no problem coming by daily to run my setup, as they know I would do the same for them. Life happens, and sometimes you need to leave town for a few days on short notice.