auto feeders vs gel blocks

HI, I'm going away for Easter to visit my in-laws. I'll see if I can get someone to come in midweek to change the goldies water so they don't die from nitrate poisoning, but feeding remains an issue. I've currently got 4 tanks running, the main 2 plus 1 fish in maternity (STILL!!) and 1 in QT waiting for her permanent tank to come free (will you hurry up in there Tiger?!)

I'm looking at autofeeders but they seem to be very pricey and not hugely reliable, especially for small amounts, and I'd need 4. I'm also looking at Tetra gel feeders which are supposed to last for a week or two, claim not to pollute the water, the usual advertising stuff, but I'm not entirely sure I believe anything written by a company that is trying to sell me something. Also not sure I can trust Robin in the presence of a week long supply of food lol!

Not sure what will be best for my little scaly friends (my daughter's threatening all sorts if I kill her beloved goldfish!)

 

I prefer autofeeders, in my opinion blocks don't provide optimum nutrition.

 

The feeders that you drop in the tank are bad. It's not just about nutrition. They pollute the water! How long will you be gone? I'm not sure about Goldfish but tetras and fish like that should be perfectly fine not eating for a few days. I think it takes 2 weeks to starve a "normal" fish. Goldfish don't have stomachs so they aren't exactly normal lol.

 

I don't prefer either gel blocks or auto feeders......

Have you checked into having a friend or neighbor stop by? How long will you be gone?

 

Let me know what you find...I am trying to figure out my strategy for my tank when I am away for 9 days

 

Assuming you'll be gone for less than 2 weeks, my vote is for neither. If you can have someone stop over once or twice to feed them, that's great, but it's not really needed.

Let me know what you find...I am trying to figure out my strategy for my tank when I am away for 9 days

9 days is nothing - You don't need to formulate any strategy. Fish can survive for weeks without food (except for fry, of course).

 

9 days is nothing - You don't need to formulate any strategy. Fish can survive for weeks without food (except for fry, of course).

Ok thanks. I was reading that 7 days was the magic number in other places

 

7 is certainly a magical number And VERY arbitrary. And very wrong in most cases. The aquarium is not devoid of food. There are things to eat in the tank, and depending on the conditions and the stock, there can be lots to eat. Most of our aquarium fish are fat(ter than they need to be) and have energy reserves. Also, it's not uncommon for wild fish to take a week or more to start eating.

It takes us 3 weeks to starve to death, and we are warm blooded. Fish are cold blooded, which means they do not expend energy on maintaining body temperature. This significantly reduces the amount of energy required for them to live.

The best thing to do, if you are concerned, is to throw in a bunch of ghost shrimp to provide non polluting snacks.

 

hmm. I'm going to be away for 7-8 days. I'm hoping I'll be able to get someone to come in midweek and change the goldies (they'll be dead from nitrates if I dont) but don't think any of my neighbours would be able to deal with coming in daily to feed the fish. I've got a pregnant female about to drop (4 weeks overdue!!). will she be ok? The fry certainly won't be if she produces while I'm gone. SOme of my tetras are very small too.

Love the idea of the ghost shrimps....if only they weren't over £5 each!!!

 

Goldfish don't have stomachs so they aren't exactly normal lol.

you only have to watch them to see that

 

hmm. I'm going to be away for 7-8 days. I'm hoping I'll be able to get someone to come in midweek and change the goldies (they'll be dead from nitrates if I dont) but don't think any of my neighbours would be able to deal with coming in daily to feed the fish. I've got a pregnant female about to drop (4 weeks overdue!!). will she be ok? The fry certainly won't be if she produces while I'm gone. SOme of my tetras are very small too.

Love the idea of the ghost shrimps....if only they weren't over £5 each!!!

Ghost Shrimp are 5 pounds??? they're $.45 over here!

 

For a week I wouldn't be overly concerned with feeding. Besides, the lack of food will help to slow down nitrate production.

 

goldies (they'll be dead from nitrates if I dont)

No, they won't - your fish will be perfectly fine. It's a shame so many people get caught up in the nitrate fear mongering. Nitrates are not going to kill your fish in a weeks time.


No one changed their water....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ne...34-days-without-food-after-NZ-earthquake.html