What Do You Do About Feeding When Your Gone?

[Somethings Fishy Here]

I have a 10 gallon here in my apt. at college and obviously can't transport it for the coming holiday vacation. In the past I had used dissolving feeders for these circumstances until I heard they pollute the water something terrible. Rather than risk it I opted to buy a timed feeder for such circumstances and was just curious as to what everyone else does and why, and to see whether or not everyone agrees with this dissolving feeder polluting the tank myth.

 

[Teelie]

Dissolving feeders will pollute the tank and over-feed the fish. There are automatic feeders however which work better and can be set on a timer.

 

[MegTheFish]

I just don't feed them A few months starvation won't hurt them...

JK!!! The most I've gone away for is 1 week, and my grandma fed my fish, good ol' grandma. If its only a week it really isn't nessarsary to feed them, but she was already here taking care of my dog...and my cats...and my budgies...and my cockatiel....so yah!

 

[soritan]

Dissolving feeders will pollute the tank and over-feed the fish. There are automatic feeders however which work better and can be set on a timer.

Yup, that's what the man said.

 

[Torrean]

how long will you be away?

 

[Somethings Fishy Here]

Im going to be gone 3 to 4 weeks, coming back once to make sure all is well and to refill feeder (or see if it needs to be refilled).

 

[Torrean]

Use the feeder for atleast a few days before you go to make sure it works like you think it does. I'm not sure what kind you have but mine (which I don't use I only have it just in case) says on the packaging do not use pelletized food. So if you have something that eats hard food you should be carefull that the hard food doesn't clog up the mechanism. If I remember correctly mine is made for flake and nothing else. Good luck. =)

 

[Somethings Fishy Here]

Yea I've used it before and it is for flake food, mine has a place to store the food with a tube within that has a hole to scoop up food so its a matter of turning it on and working out when you want it to go and how much food you want it to kick out.

 

[lljdma06]

Yea I've used it before and it is for flake food, mine has a place to store the food with a tube within that has a hole to scoop up food so its a matter of turning it on and working out when you want it to go and how much food you want it to kick out.

I have used a timed feeder with mixed results, but I go away for 6 weeks at a time. Make sure the feeder is at the lowest setting for food dispersal. They usually put way too much food in the tank. Reminds me, I have to get another one for my 10g.

 

[morgan]

Hi, when I went away for 2 weeks I used an automatic feeder ( used pellets as flakes can get damp and clump together) I also used two feeding blocks. When I came back it all seemed fine then after a few days the filter kept blocking. I tested the water and the ph was altered as well. I was told not to use the feeding blocks but I didn't listen. It took at least two months for things to return to normal. That was my experience anyway. I have Dalmation Mollies and a Pleco and they are all happy to eat the pellets. Hope it all works ok for you.

 

[osteoporoosi]

i don't feed anything, unless the trip lasts longer than 2 weeks. Then I'll call my neighbour to help

 

[dwarfgourami]

If you go for an automatic feeder, try to get the best quality (most choices) you can. I had a bit of a disaster with a cheepo version, put far too much food in the tanks, and my corys wouldn't eat the pellets that I had to use because it didn't take tablets. Since then, I get somebody to feed my fish every other day- measure out the servings in compartmented pill boxes and hide the rest of the food.