KorryDoris

Hey everyone,
I'm new to the fish scene and after getting my tank set up and running (at least it seems that way) I'm about to go on vacation and I'm reading about people using these "gel" packets rather the chaulk vacation feeders. Can someone please give me a link as to where I can buy them or where my local FSP can purchase them?
Much appreciated,
Ron

Shawnie

hey ron!!! welcome to fishlore!!

How long are you going on vaca for? fish can go a bit without being fed and that way you dont have waste in the tank while you are gone

GouramiGirl1221

Do you have anyone who'd be willing to feed your fish for you? Some fish can over-eat even on the gel feeders and quite literally eat themselves to death, and I'd hate for that to happen to your fish...

My dad feeds my fish for me during the week while I'm at college (sadly, we don't have room for my 75, 55, and 29 gallon tanks in the dorm room), but he doesn't know a whole lot about fish. So, to keep him from over-feeding, I bought the segment containers that are meant to put pills/medication in (for humans lol). I put the fishes daily dose of food in there so all he has to do is open up that day and toss it in. That may be an idea for you if someone would be willing to stop by your house.

David C

I've gone for a 7 day vacation and left my fish with no food and they were fine when I got home. I wouldn't trust anyone who isn't a fish keeper to feed my fish, but I've had a horrible experience where my brother-in-law killed all my fish during a 4 day trip. The moral of my story, if it's only a week they'd be better off not eating.

Dozey

Although it is true that some fish can go a week or more without food I would be very concerned letting very small fish (e.g. neons) go more then 3 or 4 days without food.

I too can relate to bad experiences. I got out of fish keeping 20+ years ago when I went away and trusted a friend to feed my 150 gallon tank. He decided it would just be easier to feed the fish enough food for the whole week rather then to drop by every day to feed them.

However I’m with Katie, if you can find someone that is willing to drop by to feed the fish that is certainly your best choice (IMO) and simply provide them with pre-measured amounts. Even if you can find someone that could only drop by every 2 or 3 days would be alright.

There are other things to consider as well. As a fellow Canuck I know how dry the air is this time of year. My tanks loose about an inch of water every couple of days. Over an eight or nine day vacation this can amount to a lot of water. Depending on your equipment the loss of even an inch or two of water could cause your heater and/or your filter to malfunction. So here again leaving a bucket of treated water for minor top-ups would be of help to the inexperienced. Although the temperature wouldn’t be spot on a simple top-up shouldn’t affect your fish.

Another concern is that a power outage of even only a few minutes could cause your filter to loose its prime. Not so bad if this happens the day before your return but could be disastrous should it happen the day you leave.

KorryDoris

Thanks everyone for the advice you have offered and for sharing your experiences (even if some of them were disasterous!!).

I was worried about the accumulation of waste resulting from the vacation blocks and what effect it would have on the water quality.

My tank has mostly Cardinals; they are small so I will definitely get someone to come in, at least every couple of days, during the 9 days I'm gone to give them pre-measured food and I will also keep the top-up water near by. Does it matter that the water temp might not be the same as the tank when they're adding only small amounts - I've got a 30g tank?

I have an external canister filter. Would that still loose it's prime in a power outage. We're connected to what they refer to as the "hospital power grid" so the power rarely goes off - lets hope those are not my famous last words!!

Thanks again for the help! See you when I get back

KorryDoris

PS: Happy Valentine's Day

Dozey

As I know many people let water sit for days in buckets prior to water changes. This would concern me if I was doing a large water change but at the same time I haven't heard anyone killing their fish by doing so. I don’t foresee that adding a gallon or two of slightly cooler water would harm your fish.

With a canister filter you would likely be ok. I too run a canister filter but to be honest I’m not 100% sure. But I can think of a very easy test we can both do today. Unplug our filters for 10,20, or 30 minutes. Plug it back in and see if our prime is still there. I think it will be but this test will certainly put my mind at ease so I know in the future if I have to rush home in the event of a power outage.

Happy V-Day and enjoy your vacation!!

Blub

...Here's my experience with similar sized fish (Cherry barbs) not eating for 2 weeks whilst I was on holiday: No loses. Everyone was fine! It is as proven fact that almost all fish can go for 2 weeks without food (Tetras included) - in the wild nutritious food doesn't rain from the sky everyday, and often fish have to go for weeks without food... Its easy to over worry about your fish - your biggest worry when you go away for a week should really be - "what if one gets ill/the water quality degrades?!".

My 2 cents? Give them a good water change and feed before you get off, same when you get back then back to normal schedule!

CHoffman

Yikes....No food for two weeks..That seems way to long to me. If he has someone that can come in that's the best choice..IMO it's cruel to leave ANY animal alone with no food for that long...I don't see any reason not to feed the fish while your gone if it can be helped....Good to see your care about your fish KorryDoris..and Welcome to fishlore...If it were me I would Def. have someone come in and check on them for several reasons that have already been mentioned. Good luck and I hope your fish remain happy and healthy while your gone...Enjoy the vacation.

Dozey

Wow… Two weeks, that’s amazing. I can’t imagine myself being able to relax on holidays while the animals that I have come to care fore and entrust in me for their wellbeing went uncared fore. There is just so many things that could go wrong in that time period I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night much less enjoy my vacation.

Personally I’d cancel my vacation before leaving my friends, my pets, those that depend on me for that period of time. But that’s me.

CWO4GUNNER

Researching this for myself I read from a prominent fish keeper that they can go a month with no ill effects. I think I d rather feed them a bit more 2 days before departure and just let them fast for a week.
My Mom kept 2 large Koi in a 25 gallon tank successfully for 2 years and when she on vacation for a week to Hawaii, the person she assigned to feed the fish was so jealous that they poured the entire box of food in the aquarium and then made the call to Hawaii to give the grim news stating that its seemed easier just to feed them all at once. Sad but true story and my mom cried for a week. Let them fast.

CHoffman

There is no doubt in my mind that they CAN go that long without food but if he has someone coming by who can check on other things as well, to make sure the filter is running, no dead fish or outbreaks, temp is good and then there is no real reason they SHOULD have to go without eating. As long as he explains to the person what to do and trust them their should be no problem. You COULD fast for long too but it wouldn't be pleasant.

Lucy

Personally I wouldn't want to leave my fish for more than a couple days with out food.

Looks like you have a good plan. Have fun.

GouramiGirl1221

When my power was out recently (18 hours) neither of my canister filters lost their prime, so I'd say you'll be fine there.