Going on Vacation

**Richalds** · 07-12-2006, 01:11 AM

I currently have 1 red swordtail and 2 neons (after a bad cycling incident) and I will be going on vacation shortly. The fish would be without food for 5 days. Is that ok?

Should I buy an electronic feeder? or one of those blocks that dissolves food slowly?

Also, should I feed them a bit more then usual the day before leaving?

**rosh** · 07-12-2006, 02:46 AM

I advise you to buy the electronic feeder because for your vacation, I have used thesed and trusted them. The Blocks make a mess after they dissolve where they were dropped. The feeder can be used as a by feeder when you are at your house. When you are at your house you need to put your feeder down low, because you need to feed your fish when you are at your house to watch them how they eat and which are meeker and don't get enough food. When you are on vacation you need to put it higher, but not too high because that would be over feeding your fish. You need to "experiment" with your feeder to get it adjusted before you go on vacation and when you come back. As long as you have your feeder turned up you don't need to feed your fish a bit more before you leave.

If you do choose the block way you need to cut it up to fit your tank and 5 days and how many fish you have. You only have 3 small fish and if you buy the 14 day sized block you need to cut it up in smaller pieces to fit a 5 day schedule. Why not just wait 14 days untill you feed your fish? Because the bigger the block the bigger the mess left behind. When you come back from your vacation you need to clean all the rest of the shell up that made a mess. If you go the block way you don't need to feed them a bit more before you leave either.

**kimmers318** · 07-12-2006, 03:29 AM

Neither is really necessary, fish can go quite awhile without being fed, which helps keep any waste from building. My fish went 4 days over July 4th, and although hubby stopped by several times to make sure noone was floating, he doesn't feed my fish because I have too many different things I feed with. Also, my platies, and goldfish I had in the (way) past, would pick at the feeder block until it was gone, destroying the purpose of a long term feeding block.....it was gone in a day or so! I have also heard horror stories of the feeders getting blocked up due to the moisture in the air causing the flake food to clump and not being able to be dropped.

**rosh** · 07-12-2006, 04:48 AM

Originally Posted by kimmers318

I have also heard horror stories of the feeders getting blocked up due to the moisture in the air causing the flake food to clump and not being able to be dropped.

This is as true as it gets! I have had my feeders clogged because of moisture and yes it isn't realy necessary to have an feeder for a 4 day vacation. but if you are gone for longer you might take into consideratons of a way of feeding your fish

**modda** · 07-25-2006, 08:27 PM

now how would you do it for oscars my oscars and festae are pigs when it comes to food so i know if i stuck a block in there they would just eat it how would you go about feeding them on holidays

**William** · 07-26-2006, 02:21 AM

How long will you be gone?

**modda** · 07-26-2006, 02:30 AM

i dont know i was only talking hypothetically but say a fortnight

**MagickFish** · 07-26-2006, 08:56 AM

I used the bloks from I think Tera in my aquarium whenI went away, and they did not make a mess, and the fish was well fed and happy.

**kimmers318** · 07-26-2006, 11:38 AM

The absolute best solution in my book is a trusted friend/neighbor.....measure out your feedings, label them and ask them to drop them in once a day. We have a wonderful neighbor who does do this for us when we leave the dogs home (we don't have her come over for just the fish), but we did cut back on the amount of food so that there wouldn't be any water issues. And then make sure you bring them back a souvenir!

**William** · 07-26-2006, 06:08 PM

Oscars and other large/adult fish can go a week without food provided they are in good condition before your trip. However if you go away for a forthnight it is best to feed them atleasst a couple of times during that time even if they likely would survive that to.

The best option might be to ask someone you know drop by your house a couple of times as kimmers suggest. Another alt is to by an automatic feeder.