Feeding while on vacation

CandleMaker · 06-23-2012, 05:45 PM

20g with about 8 small fish (tetras,molly etc). What is my best bet on feeding them, relying on someone coming every few days to feed em or an automatic feeder.

PlantedRich · 06-23-2012, 06:58 PM

How long are you speaking of for the vacation?
Less than a week, I say let them fast. It may in fact be good for them and will certainly be safer.
More than a week, I prefer to have somebody stop in to check the water levels and feed just a pre-measured amount. The biggest problem comes from a new person overfeeding. The old " they acted hungry" story. IF they are RELIABLE. The kid next door may be handy but very dangerous!

Automatic feeders have ways to disappoint you. Like moisture getting into the reserve of food and it sticking. Like the lid coming off and dumping the whole bundle in the tank at once. Mechanical things have their ways!

Make sure to account for the waterline going down due to evaporation. It can leave a spray bar shooting water over the edge when the water is low.

**msawdey** · 06-23-2012, 07:06 PM

i have the eheim auto feeders off amazon on both of my tanks.. they work nice with Spectrum pellets

CandleMaker · 06-24-2012, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlantedRich

How long are you speaking of for the vacation?
Less than a week, I say let them fast. It may in fact be good for them and will certainly be safer.
More than a week, I prefer to have somebody stop in to check the water levels and feed just a pre-measured amount. The biggest problem comes from a new person overfeeding. The old " they acted hungry" story. IF they are RELIABLE. The kid next door may be handy but very dangerous!

Automatic feeders have ways to disappoint you. Like moisture getting into the reserve of food and it sticking. Like the lid coming off and dumping the whole bundle in the tank at once. Mechanical things have their ways!

Make sure to account for the waterline going down due to evaporation. It can leave a spray bar shooting water over the edge when the water is low.

Three weeks. So if they came by every 3-4 days that would be cool?
I'm going to tutor the "feeder" on the amount of food this way he/she doesnt overfeed.

Diana · 06-24-2012, 02:51 AM

Tetra makes a gelled food that is readily accepted by many fish. Make it real easy on the caretaker. They would just have to drop in a new dish of food once or twice during your trip.

You test this before you leave: Will the small one work for your tank or does it need the large one? How long between water changes is OK? I would leave some RO or distilled water so the tanks can be topped off. It is easier than water changes.

Do not trust the person not to over feed. If you are using a dry food, set it up in a pill-sorter or other system. I used coffee creamer containers. Old style film canisters work well, too.

PlantedRich · 06-24-2012, 03:23 PM

While it seems simple to "tutor", I find it does little sometimes. There is a built in "need" to feed fish! I now go for strict orders, even when it is an adult. For small fish loads, I find my test tubes work. Think smaller than normal. Far better for them to be slightly hungry as they are in nature than to come home to all the problems overfeeding brings.
I totally suggest using some way to have definite small amounts pre -measured for them to dump in. If they only come by every three days don't triple the feed! One days supply at a time.

robbowal · 06-24-2012, 03:30 PM

how about using a pill minder to ration out the feeds for the tank sitter. that way you will know what has been fed exactly (as long as you hide the rest of the food)

Edit: just seen Diana mentioned this

06-23-2012, 05:45 PM	#1
CandleMaker Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Queens, New York Posts: 48	Feeding while on vacation 20g with about 8 small fish (tetras,molly etc). What is my best bet on feeding them, relying on someone coming every few days to feed em or an automatic feeder.

06-23-2012, 07:06 PM	#3
msawdey Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 970	i have the eheim auto feeders off amazon on both of my tanks.. they work nice with Spectrum pellets __________________ msawdey -Just another day in paradise-

06-24-2012, 03:30 PM	#7
robbowal Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: london UK Posts: 528	how about using a pill minder to ration out the feeds for the tank sitter. that way you will know what has been fed exactly (as long as you hide the rest of the food) Edit: just seen Diana mentioned this __________________ Canon Pimp Club #003 "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." Albert Einstein "Living in the lap of luxury isn`t bad, except you never know when luxury is going to stand up." Orson Welles Last edited by robbowal; 06-24-2012 at 03:31 PM.. Reason: beeten to it

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06-23-2012, 06:58 PM	#2
PlantedRich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pflugerville, Tx Posts: 1,513	How long are you speaking of for the vacation? Less than a week, I say let them fast. It may in fact be good for them and will certainly be safer. More than a week, I prefer to have somebody stop in to check the water levels and feed just a pre-measured amount. The biggest problem comes from a new person overfeeding. The old " they acted hungry" story. IF they are RELIABLE. The kid next door may be handy but very dangerous! Automatic feeders have ways to disappoint you. Like moisture getting into the reserve of food and it sticking. Like the lid coming off and dumping the whole bundle in the tank at once. Mechanical things have their ways! Make sure to account for the waterline going down due to evaporation. It can leave a spray bar shooting water over the edge when the water is low.

06-24-2012, 02:51 AM	#5
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,012	Tetra makes a gelled food that is readily accepted by many fish. Make it real easy on the caretaker. They would just have to drop in a new dish of food once or twice during your trip. You test this before you leave: Will the small one work for your tank or does it need the large one? How long between water changes is OK? I would leave some RO or distilled water so the tanks can be topped off. It is easier than water changes. Do not trust the person not to over feed. If you are using a dry food, set it up in a pill-sorter or other system. I used coffee creamer containers. Old style film canisters work well, too.

06-24-2012, 03:23 PM	#6
PlantedRich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pflugerville, Tx Posts: 1,513	While it seems simple to "tutor", I find it does little sometimes. There is a built in "need" to feed fish! I now go for strict orders, even when it is an adult. For small fish loads, I find my test tubes work. Think smaller than normal. Far better for them to be slightly hungry as they are in nature than to come home to all the problems overfeeding brings. I totally suggest using some way to have definite small amounts pre -measured for them to dump in. If they only come by every three days don't triple the feed! One days supply at a time.