Going out of town on vacation

And I hate to say this, but I don't trust anyone else to feed my fish for me.  I'll be gone less than a week, like 5 days or so.  What is the best self feeder out there?  I have 1 pleco, 2 guppies, 3 black skirt tetra's, 3 white skirt tetra's and a dwarf gourami in a 55 gal tank.  I want to make sure that they are all good and alive when I get back.

Also, if I don't have a timer for my light on my tank will it hurt it at all to not have lights while we're gone?  I have a few live plants in there, and altho the tank is not in direct sunlight, it does get bright in there, will that be good enough or should I get a timer?

My last question is for anyone who lives where hurricanes are a threat.  What do you do with the fish if the power goes out?  No air stone, no filter, heater... How do you keep them alive  should the lights go out for a few days?

Ok, I think that's all for now.

Thanks!

~Andrea

Edited to add: I also have a dalmation molly... I knew I had 11 fish... shhhh... don't tell her/him!

 

And I hate to say this, but I don't trust anyone else to feed my fish for me. I'll be gone less than a week, like 5 days or so. What is the best self feeder out there? I have 1 pleco, 2 guppies, 3 black skirt tetra's, 3 white skirt tetra's and a dwarf gourami in a 55 gal tank. I want to make sure that they are all good and alive when I get back.

I have no good answer for that one...

Also, if I don't have a timer for my light on my tank will it hurt it at all to not have lights while we're gone? I have a few live plants in there, and altho the tank is not in direct sunlight, it does get bright in there, will that be good enough or should I get a timer?

Everything should be fine without light for a few days...

My last question is for anyone who lives where hurricanes are a threat. What do you do with the fish if the power goes out? No air stone, no filter, heater... How do you keep them alive should the lights go out for a few days?

They make battery powered air pumps that would at least provide aeration. If I was you I would invest in a very good marine battery and keep it charged at all times. Then if you lose power for a few days you could hook a power inverter to the battery and run the essentials for your tank during the time of the outage. May not last forever but if it is a good battery and inverter it should last you a good 3 to 8 days depending on what you run.

 

If a hurricane knocked out the power here, heaters wouldn't be an issue as it is always very hot and muggy following a hurricane.. the type of fish that you have could probably do fine with a good feeding before and after your trip, but tetra makes some feeder sticks for slowly releasing food over time and i'd look for those around your area or at .

you should have enough light for them for the 5 days you'll be gone. just be sure to do a good water change before heading out and I don't think you'll have anything to worry about.

 

Your fish could go 5 days without being fed.  However, if you are just more comfortable with an auto feeder, here is one I have used with good luck:

It is by no means "the best feeder out there".  It is a very basic model...you load the food in the hopper, put in a AA battery, attach it to the tank, and you are done.  It will feed 1 type of food twice per day.  You can find much fancier feeders, that would allow multiple foods and so on.  IN MY OPINION, however, you would be spending money unnecessarily for those extra features UNLESS you planned to use it all the time and not just when on vacation.  If you did want to use a feeder all the time, then you would be better off looking into one of the more expensive, but more fully featured models.

I have to bow out on the question of light for the plants as I do not keep live plants.  I would think it would be ok for just a few days, but I just don't have the experience to say for sure.

 

regarding the plants, going without the tank light won't kill them (unless they are already sick/damaged/weak). I use a timer normally just because it's one less thing I have to remember, but whether you go that route is up to you

 

Thank you all for your input on things. I think I will try that automatic feeder, my fish normally only get 2 types of food, both flakes, just different, with bloodworms every couple of weeks, and they can do without those (as upset as they may get about it).

~Jynx

 

I'll be driving up in the mountains this coming weekend, to stay in a cabin for 3 days. The problem is, I have platy fry that need water changes frequently (the stinking filter doesn't seem to do much.....Anyone have any suggestions for a new filter?), and need to be fed frequently. Would an automatic feeder be a good investment? Or perhaps the weekend feeder things? (I have no idea how either of them work, so...)
None of my neighbors have fish, so I'm not sure if they'll know what to do and all....:/

Any ideas?

 

I have heard the automatic feeders work well. I have never been crazy about the weekend feeders. I guess I just worry about what is being released in my water.

 

I've heard bad things about the weekend feeders, I wouldn't trust them.
Hopefully someone whose had experience with them will be along to help you.

 

If it weren't such a short notice you could go with an automatic brine shrimp hatchery. It would be perfect for your situation. Here is what one looks like:

 

I guess the automatic feeder will just have to do :/
Unless, do you think maybe, if I put them in a 10 gal, and gave them a large portion of food before I leave (and do a water change) that they would be able to eat the food for 3 days? I know the food would get kindof gross, and its not the best option but...

 

Large portion of food wouldn't do well, because it would raise the ammonia in your tank.

The fry, if in an established tank, should be fine. They would eat algae and microfauna in the tank. If you have other tanks with algae or decorations you can pop some of the decorations into the new tank and let them graze for the 3 days.

We've had fry go that long without food and do alright.

 

Hmm, I don't have any algae in any of my tanks it seems.
So I can just leave them without food for three days and they'll be fine? If that's the case, I needn't have worried...

I'm just worried that I'm going to come home to a tank of dead fry...I've had one or two die off in the last few days, and I've raised them for about 3 weeks already. Some of them died off in the first few days, but shouldn't they be pretty strong by now? I can't think of what's wrong....so that's why I'm worrying.

Anyways, maybe I'll just have to get a automatic feeder anyways xD
Hmm...

 

If you have a good neighbor who you can trust -hopefuly one that takes good care of a pet, teach him/her how you want your fry to be fed (I did this with my elder sister, who cares for her dogs and cat, and even though she had no experience with fish she fed all my tanks accordingly). To prevent overfeeding, emphasize that it would likely harm them -even kill them.

Just do a partial (30-40%) water change and substrate vacuum, minutes before you leave and be ready to do another one upon arrival.

Please, don't change that stinking filter -stinking may be good not bad-, even if it is not removing solids, it is likely holding beneficial bacteria, don't even rinse it; if you want to add a filter do it without removing the old one. In fry tanks you need to consider not using filters that could suck the little fishies through the water intake, most fry safe filters I know are usually biological filters (sponges) with air flowing through from an airpump.

Hope this info is helpful for you

Pepe
Santo Domingo

 

hello and thanks for your time in advanced. I had never faced this problem before because my office never closes but this year it will be closed for 2 weeks and nobody will be able to feed my betta,, what should I do I heard of some type of food that last.. I don't kno can some1 help me ??here is a pik of sanson!!

 

I'd take him home for the holidays..

 

hmm, maybe you could get a automatic fish feeder for her/him.

 

that's what I was thinking,, taking him home!! but the electric feeder its not a bad idea! thank you guys!!

 

Can you not stop by every other day for a few minutes to feed him? That's what I do...

 

Can you not stop by every other day for a few minutes to feed him? That's what I do...

its a little far, 45 min from where I live so.. I think he is coming home with family for the new 2009!!

 

yeah take the boy home with you! he needs to meet the family . All you do is take out all the ornaments and take out some of the water and he will be fine - make sure the tank is nice and secure... and off you go

 

well, that would be for the best!

 

yeah take the boy home with you! he needs to meet the family . All you do is take out all the ornaments and take out some of the water and he will be fine - make sure the tank is nice and secure... and off you go

yea he has a big familly at home!!! but I think he will be swimming in his own tank at home because I don't want to disturb my other betta, my betta at home has no name and he lives in a community tank, its a pretty big tank and the fish that he lives with are still babys so he is good for the moment, the betta in my house does verry well and does not fight at all nether the other fish!, I'm afraid if I put sanson in the comunnity tank it will trigger a confusing behavior.

 

I work at a college and am in t he same situation as you iseefish,I have put automatic fish feeders on my secraries tank and the goldfish in the Bio Labs, but they are not reliable and sometimes dump into the tank,you cannot control the food times on most of them unless you get a real expensive one. I still have to go in and check them during the break. I have two Betta girls in my office and I took them home with me for the Holiday.. I think that is best for Bettas...as we know they like attention and are generally spoiled rotten!

 

Oh Yeah! He won't like being in with your other Betta.. You could get a floating trap to put into your community tank for him during that temporary time,but that may be a lot of stress on both the Boys..they would probebly be at each other the whole time...the Ideal situation is you bring his tank home with him and keep them completly seperated.
Good Luck & Happy Holiday!

 

Aww yes take him hom ein his own tank so he can enjoy the holidays too

My flat is just around the corner from my mum's house which is where I'm staying for a few days over christmas - so Hamish is lucky. I just walk over a couple of times a day & feed him & talk to him for a few mins. If I was in your situation I would have to take the tank home!!

 

In Sept. we are going to Germany for a couple weeks. Wife hasn't been home for 10 years, so she is really excited ( so am I ).

The dogs will be taken care of, and the cat, but I'm a little bit leary of the fish.

I thought I would do a water change the day before we leave, cleaning the filter also. I was going to put some Tetra EasyBalance in the water, I don't know if it works, but I have a bottle.

The lights are on a timer.

I have someone, who will feed the fish, so I thought I would leave 14 little cups out with the right amount of food in each one.

I am going to get a 29 - 50 gal. tank for some Goldfish, but have decided to put that off until we are back.

Yesterday at the store, a 5 gal. betta tank jumped into my shopping cart, I had to wrestle it out of there.
I'm not so sure it will not follow me home today

Anyway, if anyone has some advice on what else to do with the fish, it would be much appreciated.

Randy

 

Is the tank cycled? If so it should be fine. Do a good water change before you leave. It should be fine for a couple of weeks unless you're overstocked or feeding to much. Do a water change when you get back. I'd skip the easy balance.
Good idea about measuring out the food.

Funny how those 5g's just jump in your cart isn't it?
I know it's hard, but hold off on getting the betta until you get home. You'll be able to get the tank cycled and bond with your new baby.

Have a fun and safe trip!

 

Randy, your fish can go up to 2 weeks without food. However, I would feel uneasy leaving my fish without food so get some to feed them once a day at most. I have not heard very much about EasyBalance, but I don't think you really need to use that, just do a WC and you will be good to go. Hope this helps.

 

In Sept. we are going to Germany for a couple weeks. Wife hasn't been home for 10 years, so she is really excited ( so am I ).

The dogs will be taken care of, and the cat, but I'm a little bit leary of the fish.

I thought I would do a water change the day before we leave, cleaning the filter also. I was going to put some Tetra EasyBalance in the water, I don't know if it works, but I have a bottle.

The lights are on a timer.

I have someone, who will feed the fish, so I thought I would leave 14 little cups out with the right amount of food in each one.

I am going to get a 29 - 50 gal. tank for some Goldfish, but have decided to put that off until we are back.

Yesterday at the store, a 5 gal. betta tank jumped into my shopping cart, I had to wrestle it out of there.
I'm not so sure it will not follow me home today

Anyway, if anyone has some advice on what else to do with the fish, it would be much appreciated.

Randy

sounds perfect to me! spending time with family is awesome and something we all should do whenever possible... and id use the easybalance..it won't hurt anything and might help for the 2 weeks..although id never rely on it for other circumstances, this might be ok... separating the food for each day, and stressing to not feed anything more!, will be the most important.... darn bettas have a way of doing that and I hope it does follow you home!! pics pics of your trip and betta are a must ;D

 

Funny how those 5g's just jump in your cart isn't it?
I know it's hard, but hold off on getting the betta until you get home. You'll be able to get the tank cycled and bond with your new baby.
Have a fun and safe trip!

That Betta tank put up a good fight !!!

I already know where the Goldfish tank and the Betta tank will go, and what I want in them.

The funny thing is that I had already decided to wait until we got back, but the closer we get to going, the harder it is to wait on the tanks.......

 

I know the feelings. Same thing happened to me before I left for my trip.

 

Hello all,

I know it's early but I'm wondering what to do with SashimI over the 4 day Christmas weekend . SashimI is my office Betta, and normally I would take him home but this year I'll be on a cruise the week before Christmas not returning until Christmas Eve. I have arranged for someone to feed him while I'm away but will he be ok for the 4 days no ones in the office.

Thanks for you help.
Heather

 

I personally think he should be.. When I had my betta and I left for the whole summer my brother fed him and he was fine when I came home. Same with the fish at school, over the breaks people would periodically come feed the fish and that's it. I'm still a newb here so I can't say for certain. I have confidence he'll be okay

As for the 4 days nobody will be there, maybe have someone drop on one of those "vacation feeder blocks" or maybe just give him a bit of extra the day before.

_______________
Makena: My name
'95GT: My 1995 convertible Mustang GT

 

4 days for a betta should be fine (mine are ok when I do it); if you're worried about it you could invest in an auto feeder or one of those vacation feeder things (looks like a big white blob), but honestly I wouldn't worry about it. maybe give him a couple extra pellets the friday before.

 

I personally do not like those vacation feeders, if your fish don't like them they can wreak havoc on your tank with the amount of decay that will be there.

If you normally feed him once a day what I would suggest is that friday you have him fed early, just before close have them drop in a few more pellets or whatever you feed your betta. He will be quite fine for the long weekend and just beg a bit more than usual when you get back lol.

 

I'm gone for two or three days every other month or so and they are fine. I have around 2,000 Bettas and sell them online. They are in bags in boxes for from one to three days. I had one box last year that went to Sacramento from my home in MissourI before going to it's final destination in New York. They arrival in good condition and just hungry after a 7 day 4,000 + mile trip. I normally fast them one day a week anyway. In the wild, fish don't get to eat everyday and even though these are domestic it won't hurt them to miss several meals. Feeding heavily or leaving extra food while you are gone will only fowl their water.

 

So your only going away for 4 days?

Vacation feeders are quite a pain in the butt. You put them into the tank, they dissolve within a 24 hour time period and most likely it will decay and bring ammonia into the aquarium.

When I leave for vacation, I usually either (A get one of my family members to come over and feed my fish or (B Buy a few Ghost shrimp and put them into the tank (I bet your wondering, why ghost shrimp? Well, eventually the fish will get hungry enough and eat the shrimp. I know, this may sound cruel but it isn't really that much at all. A cheap and easy way.)

 

Ghost shrimp... hmmm. I may have to borrow that, PHP; you're right about the vaca feeders; I hate them, but know that some people have used them with some level of success. Would a small female betta be big enough to eat a ghost shrimp?

 

She might, wisecrackerz.