derv

Hi there,

As the xmas is coming up I wil be going away for a few days.

How long can the fish last without food ?
I need to know if i will need to give someone the keys to my house to feed them.

There will be no one in the house for 2 (possibly 3) days.


Thanks

Sasukii

If you trust someone to come in and feed them, I'd do that. See if a neighbor can stop in in the morning, feed/switch light on maybe. Then Stop back by at night time and flip the light off, or second feeding if need be (depends on your cycle I suppose). It's what I do - but there is usually someone here. I like to make sure they know how much to feed as well, just giving a quick rundown, and so you don't come back to a mess....

If not, maybe an auto feeder... But then again they might be ok, and really hungry by the time you get back! *waits to see more answers*

Lucy

Your fish should be fine for 2 or 3 days without food. Just make sure you feed them before you leave and feed them when you get home.

Should you decide to have someone come in and feed them you can put food portions in those weekly pill containers, that way there's no question of amount.

Sasukii

! that's GENIUS Lucy!

Lucy

I wish I could take credit for the idea.

When I went away for a few days I used those little paper cups that fast food places provide for ketchup and put a serving in each cup.
All my husband had to do was dump the food in.

derv

thanks for the heads up guys.
i don't really trust the neighbours enough to give them the keys :-)
(i have not been living there too long )

so i will probably leave them alone for the 2 days.

Lucy

They'll be fine.

Oh! Welcome to Fish Lore.

derv

thanks, from looking at the site - looks like i have a lot to learn :-)

jdhef

Since fish are cold blooded they do not need calories to burn to maintain a constant body temperatue, therefore than can get buy on less food than you would expect.

Dozey

All good advice. One other option is that you can buy “weekend feeder wafers”. They are simply hard little disk that will dissolve over a couple of days providing some food to the fish.

musicman4567

The feeder blocks work well, but leave a bit of plaster behind in the tank that can be messy to clean up. Tetra makes a good feeder block that doesn't use plaster, but is slightly more expensive. The problem with it is some fish won't even view it as food... Guess it's trial and error to figure out what feeders you could leave with your fish.

dalinturg

I think a waterchange is also recommened before you leave.

Butterfly

All good advise Feed them well and then do a good water change and you should be good to go. They will be really happy to see you
Carol

derv

thanks for all the info guys. i will be sure to do a water change.
i'm sure i'll have lots more questions in the future.