Any Ideas?

[lilim10]

I might be facing a scenario where I will have to leave my discus for 3 weeks. What should I do? I know I cannot just leave them without food for three weeks, and I've considered asking a friend. The problem is, I don't particularly trust my friend with my discus, as she doesn't know a thing about fish, much less discus. I've considered teaching her the basics, but I'm still extremely worried about the outcome of my fish. Are there any other suggestions? Such as an automatic feeder? (but my fish still can't live for three weeks without water changes!)

Also, if I have to resort to asking my friend, what's the minimal amount of things she'll have to do? (Such as limiting water changes to just once a week, as the normal 2-3 times a week is impractical, or feeding just once or twice a week to minimize waste, ect.). I'm not sure if this helps, but the discus are adults and not juveniles (we all know how needy they are!).

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Portion out the food in ziplocs or a pill organizer. If you can teach them to do a water change even better, shoot for one while you're gone.

 

[shawnhu]

Three weeks is a long time. I have no experience with Discus, but hope that my advice may help.

If you are concerned with ammonia build up, prep your tank with addiional bacteria to combat the ammonia. Add additional bio-media to help house more bacteria. Use Ammo-Carbs to absorb ammonia. Plants can also help consume ammonia before it gets into the nitrogen cycle. Most floating plants will do great, such as Hornwort.

I would also definately reduce the feedings. Since they are adults, they won't really be inpacted by sparce feedings as much. Build up their appetite, and train your helper to drop in the food sowly, making sure non hits the bottom. Turn off the filters while they feed, to prevent uneaten food getting into the filter, causing ammonia spikes.

Hope this helps.

 

[Rbishop]

You can't get more bacteria by adding more media. The bacteria you have will only equal the bioload at any one time.

Food that is pre-measured is a good idea as Hooked suggested.

You might want to make up some water ahead of time, store it in clean jugs. Teach your friend how to take out "x" gallons and add that much back from the jugs.

 

[pinkertd]

I don't know how soon you are leaving, but if you've got the time and you do want your friend to do partial water changes for you, have them do a water change or two right with you. You are not heavily stocked in that tank, so with reduced feedings you could definitely get away with 1 partial water change a week. The tank's not going to have the organics build up it usually does. I've gone as many as 8 days with no partial water changes with a smaller, more heavily stocked tank than you and the discus didn't blink an eye. And write it all down so they have steps to follow. They will be fine for 3 weeks with reduced feedings. Definitely premeasure the feedings too, I always do this. Make up a checklist of things your friend should check for everyday.....temp. of tank, filter running fine,etc. I even include a headcount on the list I leave for my son. If one of the discus should die unexpectedly, he'd have to get it out of that tank before the ammonia went thru the roof from a large fish decomposing. Hope that helps!