esbright1

Hi
I have been reading that fish can live up to 3 months without food, and that becuase there will be no fish waste the tank can be exceptionaly clean. Is that true and safe to leave them with no food? The thought of not giving them any food for a week is not one I cherish. Is is better that I get an automatic fish feeder to take care of it while Im away?

agabr123

i think 3 months is too long. it's recommended to fast your fish one day out of the week, but IMO three months is too long. they might survive but that seems like a really long time. i'd say to not leave them with food for more than a week is probably not a good idea

sgould

If you leave home for just a few days, most fish would be fine. 3 months would not be a good idea...I doubt there would be survivors.

Angela_96

3 months would lead to the fish turning on each other and being very aggressive. I work every other weekend. My cichilds get one feeding a day on those days and 3 on the days I am home.
I would never fast my cichlids as they are extremely aggressive fish.
My females that hold for 3 weeks even find a way to slip in some food in those 3 weeks of "fasting" I see them getting a flake a day at least.

CWO4GUNNER

IMHO 3 months is too long for the tank as well without a water change unless maybe no food was placed inside for the entire time. But unless you have some fat fish it would be like putting you on a starvation diet for 3 months in a swimming pool, you'd have to be pretty fat to survive. Unless you can rig an automatic water changer as well as a feeder, your going to need a human to do both at some point or ammonia, nitrites or nitrates may get out of control.

esbright1

So I should fast them 1 day a week?
Im only going for a week, so will probally get somone to pop in and feed them (water plants at the same time!).

I gave them blood worms today for the first time. My pet shop reccomened that I only put in a quarter of the frozen block as this is the first time they have had them. As I dropped them in its like they knew what they were!!! They all dived to the top to eat them and there wasnt any left to sink to the bottom for the clown loachs, so they are left routing for food in the gravel, can I give them some of there pellets?. My guy said not to give any flakes today.
He said I shoud give flake food one day and then worms the next for a week and then just occasionaly give them some as a treat.

shih-tzu mom

Hi: and welcome-bloodworms can cause constipation in some fish that is why it is recommened, as a treat and pelletts to be given on a daily basis or flakes.Give your fish a pea 1-time a week to help them. and good luck, and yes, you can give some flakes if they are still hungry but not to many. bella

agabr123

if you ask someone to come in and feed, you should use something to separate all of the food and label for what day/time it is. even well intentioned people don't necessarily know how much/little to feed your fish, so if i were to ever do that then i would just separate it for them in plastic bags or something and label the bags so they didn't even have to think about it

lol, yeah frozen bloodworms are definitely a treat. just make sure you defrost them first, a lot of people do this in a small plastic cup and then pour them in across the whole tank.

i usually give bloodworms to my fish once a week as a treat, like the LFS said, and then i fast 1 day a week. i'd recommend fasting because it can help prevent bloating and all sorts of things.

esbright1

Great thanks. I thought about getting a daily tablet seperator, you know the little boxes that have the days on the week on them and puting the food in them.

I just got rid of the itc and today started to bring the temp down, very slowly but I am sure I can see a white spot on one of the loachs. :-(