FEEDING WHILE ON VACATION

either teach the person how to properly do water changes, or only leave enough food measured out for 2-3 feedings per week. at the very least, make sure that there is either aged water available or the petsitter-person-whatever is taught how to correctly top off any evaporated tank water.

The biggest danger is overfeeding. Assuming your fish are eating dry food-

Put a day's worth of food for the tank in each of several small containers and place them on top of the tank; ask the caretaker's to place one container's worth in the tank every second or third day. Your fish will be hungry when you get back, but they'll be alive.

*EDIT* WC and I must have been typing at the same time. I think the risk of the caretaker botching a water change is high enough that you'd be better off avoiding the issue altogether. Just do a few big water changes before you leave, and a few more when you return.

why don't you just buy one of the automatic feeders? This way the person will just have to top off water if/when needed. I had a person feed mine once. Only once. Came back to a half empty container of fish food(only gone for a week). He just thought it was so cool watching them eat that he kept giving them more thinking that they were starving.... :argue:

True Lupin. I never had an issue with one, but it could happen. I know I was just absolutely pissed when I saw how much food he gave mine in a week.

I like the envelope idea... it is harder to spill that the containers, and he/she could just tear off the end and pour it in. Also, how big is your tank? I mean I was on vacation for almost a week and it had started to look a little murky right before I did a 60% wc today when I got back... but that was with feeding 2 types of dry food every other day... my gouramis are picky. All in all, I'd say, water change as close to right before you leave as possible and feed every third day depending on the tank size.

You could always get the medicine dispensers that the elderly use and fill that with food. That way they know what days they feed the fish and have an exact amount.

I would also leave them a few gallons of distilled water. When water evaporates, as it seems to do at this time of year, the minerals stay behind. Draw a line on the tank with a magic marker (on the glass so it will clean off later) and let them know to keep the tank filled to that line. The mineral content will not fluctuate very much that way. The distilled water will not contain minerals or chlorine so the only concern will be temperature. If the water containers are at room temperature and water is added SLOWLY, there should be no reason for concern.

I would also advise being on hand with the temporary caretaker a few times before you leave to not only show how to do this but to carefully explain and see them in action.

I do second the feeding concerns. Many people think more food is better, not realising the potential for problems created by that type of thinking. Fish do quite well if not fed every day and just 7-8 light feedings over the 3 weeks will not only suffice for the fish but will also help control water quality.

I would perform several daily partial water changes before you leave to optimize water quality and a few after you return. Preventive maintenance is always better than curing problems after they happen.

Charlie