T3Knical5urg3

Im going home for labor day weekend. Would my fish be okay not being fed? Or should i buy one of those vacation feeders. I don't like them. they seem kinda funny to me.

Lucy

I've heard bad things about the feeders, everything from the fish over eating to stuff leaching into your tank.

I think they'd be ok for 3 days, but wait for someone with a bit more knowledge to weight on this too.

Have a safe trip.

Chief_waterchanger

They should be just fine. Ours sometimes go without eatting for 3-5 days when Dino and I have to be out of town.

Feed them and then do a waterchange a bit later the day before leaving, then feed when you get back and all should be fine.

Dino

Probably would not hurt to do one when you get back too.

Mike

I agree too - assuming the aquarium water quality is in line, they'll be fine without food for 3 days.

eaglescout316

I'm extremely new to owning an aquarium, but one thing i checked on before i made the investment is long-term vacations when one owns fish. I probably won't have anyone to have come in and feed the fish or test the water, and i wanted to be able to breathe easy with a 2 week vacation. As far as feeding goes, i got an automatic feeder. It has a timer similar to ones that turns lights on and off, and has a compartmented area where the food is placed. Say for instance, you feed mainly flakes but throw in some worms and/or algae wafers every few days, you can set that up.

Just my $.02 worth. It's based on stuff i read around the internet, not the years of experience many of these folks have.

Chief_waterchanger

Some people are leary of the auto feeders because they have malfunctioned for some people and dumped the entire load of food at once. That large of a dump could result in nitrate and ammonia spikes which could harm the fish, but I bet that the majority of people that use them see some measure of success from them.

(I've never used them, so I can not weigh in on pros or cons based on experience, but rather just what I've heard.)

Shawnie

I use one at my salon as we are closed on sundays...and open late on mondays...BUT...like anything in life, you get what you pay for!!! dont go cheap on the auto feeders or yes, you will have disaster...I got ours for $40 but it was a tax write off ..gotta keep the customers happy with healthy fishies ya know

Chief_waterchanger

Off topic: Good job Shawnie!

peacemaker92

They'll be fine! 3 days is no big deal. Just make sure you quickly feed them after you get back. I'm sure they'd be very very hungry! My fish are like that, when I don't feed them during the weekend (away at grandparent's house helping out), I'd feed them after the weekend and they'd eat the food so quick! Less than 10 to 20 seconds!