View Full Version : Vacation feeding?
Dicky
10-20-2003, 10:28 AM
How do you guys and girls feed your fish when you go on vacation? I have just started out and only have a 10g tank with two Pristella tetras in it. I was thinking of using those four day feeders that are placed in the tank and disolve which releases the food for them. I am only going a way for a total of 4 days.
ChilDawg
10-20-2003, 10:44 AM
I'd recommend not feeding them. Those vacation feeders will make your water harder and more alkaline -- not a good thing for the tetras in question. They can go four days without food, so that would be the best bet.
aquatix03
10-20-2003, 10:51 AM
well, it depends on how long you've had your fish and their conditions. if you've been feeding your fish adequately (not overfeeding of course) then they'd be fine for at least a week to 10 days if not more without food. most aquarium literature do not recommend the use of vacation feeders as they tend to harden teh water due to the use of 'plaster of paris' etc.. unless you get the newer ones.. nonetheless, 4 days will definitely not be a problem.. with such a low stocking in a 10G.. please make sure your tank is cycled of course!
When I go away for a weekend I generally leave the tank as is and just feed right before I leave. If I go away for up to a week I use my autofeeder on a very low setting so just a small pinch of food drops in each day. It makes me feel comforatble anyway. Any longer than that I can usually get a coworker to drop in every 3 days and do a little feeding and top off any water which I premix. My big tank is 10 gallons with a light fish load and plants. Fish can be pretty tough if they are healthy.
And yes, I agree that those feeder tabs are just a waste. Heck the time I used one it didn't even dissolve enough after 1 week to let the food out. And it was also covered in snails so if food could be released they would have gotten it before the fish.
mogurnda
10-20-2003, 12:40 PM
Amazing they still sell those feeder blocks. Fish can easily go 4 days without food.
ChilDawg
10-20-2003, 2:53 PM
I'm not too amazed...people buy them all the time. I personally kept Wardley's in business last year on their vacation feeders (as well as shrimp pellets and Tubifex cubes). [This was before I knew better.]