Tropical fish feeding while on vacay

[crazy charlie]

been feeding Mollys/Platys,algae eater and scissor tails once a day with algae wafers 2x a week for the past 10 years.Dont have anyone to feed them while I am away for 10 days.Recently have had to change feeding to once every 2-3 days with no obvious issues.Will the long term discs/wafers keeep em alive for 10 days??Charlie

 

[JASinIL2006]

Don't feed them anything. Healthy fish will be fine for 2 weeks, easy. Those time-release discs and pyramids will just foul the water.

If you're really worried about them, or if you have fry or sick fish, get an autofeeder (e.g., https://www.eheim.com/en_GB/accessories/installation/feeding_fish_feeder).

I have had up to 12 tanks of tropical fish at a time, and a 10 day fast won't hurt your fish a bit.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I used to use a time-release battery powered feeder. I think it was $10 from the fish store.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I used to use a time-release battery powered feeder. I think it was $10 from the fish store.

Those can be fine. I know at least once or twice when I was using one on a tank with fry (that I didn't want to leave without food), the feeder dumped way to much food into the tank. Another time, the lid on the hopper fell off and dumped a canister of food into the tank.

If you do get use an auto-feeder, be sure to get it well in advance of when you leave, and try it out for a week or two to make sure it's reliable. The best luck I ever had was with the Eheim model, but it is rather pricy. I found them to be more of a hassle and more of a risk than they were worth.

 

[aspeck]

When I had fish I quickly learned that even the small amount I was feeding them was over-feeding. That was why I did not worry about it when I was away ... there was always enough residue on the bottom to keep them happy! And if not, there would be another guppy or 3 that would have babies which would provide sustenance for the rest of the crowd!

 

[GA_Boater]

And if not, there would be another guppy or 3 that would have babies which would provide sustenance for the rest of the crowd!

'speck - Did you return to a few fat fish?

 

[WIMUSKY]

When I had fish I quickly learned that even the small amount I was feeding them was over-feeding. That was why I did not worry about it when I was away ... there was always enough residue on the bottom to keep them happy! And if not, there would be another guppy or 3 that would have babies which would provide sustenance for the rest of the crowd!

Put a couple guppies in the tank and in no time it will be full of guppies. They're worse than rabbits!

 

[aspeck]

'speck - Did you return to a few fat fish?

Yep, usually ... pregnant or otherwise ...

 

[crazy charlie]

Thanks guys,I have done a good job keeping the fish alive for yours without know too much about the upkeep.I still don't think I will feel right unless I leave one of those long term feeding discs.I know how nasty i get when i am very hungry.Lol

 

[Scott Danforth]

put a pair of oscars in the tank and there wont be any guppies.

 

[crazy charlie]

Dont have guppys

 

[JASinIL2006]

I've heard too many stories of those long term feeders fouling the water and people returning to find tanks full of dead or sick fish. Never in my tank, but if you want to roll the dice, go ahead. ( don't forget the fish are cold-blooded, and don't experience hunger the same as we do. When there is not food, their metabolism just slows down and they become less active.)