no care for a week

[exhumed07]

ok I'm heading to aruba in april for my brothers wedding and noone to care for my fish. I'm going to be gone for a week, what can I do to prepaire for the time I'm gone?

I plan on doing a 50% water change in all my tanks and making sure the filters are all cleaned and gravel vacumed. but thats all I know of what to do cause I still live with my folks and they don't trust anyone to come care for the house and I don't trust anyone to not overfeed my fish.

I have been thinking about the feed blocks that slowly disolve in the water to help feed them while I'm gone, are they worth it or will they most likely be fine for a week with no food? my 55 has alot of algea on the rocks and some on the driftwood so I'm sure my mbuna can feed on that, but my peacocks are what I'm most concerned about. any ideas?

 

[Lotus]

I've left fish for a week with no feeding. They've been fine.

The only fish I worry about are fry.

I have a couple of automatic feeders that work well enough for fish I'm more worried about.

In general, they're fine for a week. Just make sure the heat or air-conditioning is on and that no one turns off the electricity.

 

[Newman]

yes an auto feeder set to go off at night *might * benefit your eels...

 

[exhumed07]

thanks lotus. I been thinking about getting auto feeders but my 20 gallon and 30 will be nearly empty by the time I head to aruba since the fry will be large enough to sell. 20 gallon will only have my pleco and dojo loach and the 30 will only have my clown pleco and the tiger/red tail shovel nose cat. and 2 other fish I just picked up and can't remember the names of. so it's mostly my 55 I'm worried about but at least now I know they "should" be fine. and newman, What eels? lol

 

[Lotus]

A couple of years ago we went off for a three-day vacation. Unfortunately, my partner got sick and ended up in hospital. We ended up being away for 10 days. All the fish were fine. They need us a lot less than we'd like to think.

I prefer the battery-powered feeders that you can put a mix of food into. That way, you can put pellets and flake or whatever in there. Just make sure the feeders are working well--set them up two or three days before you go. Feed more sparingly than you usually do, just to keep the water in good shape.

Obviously, a good water change before you go, and another when you come back.

Try not to make big changes for a week or two before you go--don't add fish or new equipment.

 

[exhumed07]

I have plans on removing fish not adding them lol. but I'll try to get a reliable auto feeder for my 55. I can't afford 3 of them.

 

[Newman]

rofl, my mistake I was thinking "peacock eels"

 

[Doomhed]

I have plans on removing fish not adding them lol. but I'll try to get a reliable auto feeder for my 55. I can't afford 3 of them.

get 3 of them and return them after your vacation. you should be in 30 day return policy.

tell the petco/petsmart you really didnt like the way they worked.

 

[exhumed07]

sorry doom but I wouldn't feel right about doing that. I'm to honest of a person to do that. like today after work went to get mcdonalds. I got 2 mcdoubles and a shamrock shake. they gave me the shake and then gave me someone elses order, a big mac fry and hashbrowns. I could have taken the more expensive meal but I didn't cause it wasn't right.