I am new to this forum, and to aquariums. I have a 20 gallon tank and it is about 3 weeks old. I have 2 female swordtails, 3 rainbows and 2 guppy fry (their mother died after giving birth ). So I have the fry in a breeding net so the others do not make an appetizer of them. My question is, we are going away at the end of July for 10 days. I am planning on taking the fry in a separate tank to a relative to feed. As for the other fish, should I use the blocks of food for vacations, or an automatic feeder? Is it a good idea to move the fry, or would they be safe in the tank with the others? How fast will they grow? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Holiday feeding
- Thread starter shaela21
- Start date
There are some automatic feeders you could try. If you had someone stop over once or twice while you were gone, a dumped a pre-measured amount of food into the tank (just so they don't get overzealous - film canisters work great), it would be plenty in my opinion.
Adult fish, providing they are in good health can go upto about 3 weeks without any food (what I have heard, never tried it and check it out first), If you have live plants they'll nibble those if theres nothing else
The fry will have to be looked after for you as they need pretty much constant attention as you probally already know
Automatic feeders look hand, but if your only off for a week or so I doubt the investment is worth it, unless you will be planning on regerally being away from the tank for extended periods
Hope that helps a little
EDIT: O' and welcome to the forums
The fry will have to be looked after for you as they need pretty much constant attention as you probally already know
Automatic feeders look hand, but if your only off for a week or so I doubt the investment is worth it, unless you will be planning on regerally being away from the tank for extended periods
Hope that helps a little
EDIT: O' and welcome to the forums
Adult fish can easily go a week without food. I have gone a week without feeding adult fish, however you couldn't do this with fry... or I should say, you shouldn't do this.
But 10 days is pushing it. And for fry, no I wouldn't do that. But as others have said you could buy an automatic feeder or you could have a trusted friend come to feed the fish.
But 10 days is pushing it. And for fry, no I wouldn't do that. But as others have said you could buy an automatic feeder or you could have a trusted friend come to feed the fish.
He's taking the fry to someone else to feed (they need to eat often - just make sure the other person knows how to change water and such). The adult fish should be fine for 10 days without food.
Hi all,
I'm new here as well. This question interested me because I'll be going on vacation in a few weeks as well. Does this mean that the weekend feeder blocks are not recommended? I have a 20 gal tank that only has 2 adult neon tetras in it at the moment.
Thanks!
~Zanne
I'm new here as well. This question interested me because I'll be going on vacation in a few weeks as well. Does this mean that the weekend feeder blocks are not recommended? I have a 20 gal tank that only has 2 adult neon tetras in it at the moment.
Thanks!
~Zanne
Are you using the neon’s to cycle the tank, or keep it cycled? Two tiny neon’s is a little on the dangerous side as far as keeping the cycle process in tact. But back to the topic...
...The vacation blocks are junk. They are not good food, and they leach contaminates into the aquarium water... toxins that pollute the water.
...The vacation blocks are junk. They are not good food, and they leach contaminates into the aquarium water... toxins that pollute the water.
i agree with afg. my brother tried those one time with his fish and they got sick two died but the rest lived. i would make sure the fry are cared for properly by a friend that will really take care of them while you were gone.
I'm pretty sure the vacation feeder blocks are just calcium carbonate with embedded food. They will certainly alter your water's params: KH and possibly pH, but I fail to see what "contaminants or toxins" would be leached into the water.
It's a moot point, the former is sufficient reason to not use them.
It's a moot point, the former is sufficient reason to not use them.
