URGENT--Unexpected Trip

[Masa_Rov]

Hi, Folks.

An unexpected emergency forces me to leave home for a few days to a week.

Question:

How often to have the following fish fed?

Tank 1:

8" Silver arowana
7" bichir (Polypterus p. p.)
2 4 1/2" geophagus brasiliensis
5 1/2" hybrid parrot
4 5" bala sharks
8" common pleco

Because of the way I feed them, which I can't expect the person who will care for them to feed, there is a chance that the bichir will not get its favorite food, namely, freeze-dried krill and frozen bloodworms.

All the fish will likely be fed a mix of freeze dried krill, flakes, carnivore sticks, sinking and floating pellets.

I will be making small packets for the fish handler to feed to the fish.

Questions:

1. How long can a 6" bichir go without food and still be healthy, assuming it does not like what I will leave for the fishsitter?

2. The arow may go crazy with the new fish-sitter, although it seems to be very placid as far as silver arowanas go:
2 (a) How long could it go without food and still be healthy?
2 (b) I assume there is the possibility that it will go after the other fish, if it is too hungry, is there not?

Minitank II:

I have isolated my son's betta because the poor fish has dropsy. I do not know whether the drosy is a symptom of a bacterial infection, a tumor, or what. It is a very small tank: one of those colorful 2 1/2 to 3 gallons deals, with a filter and pump. The fish still has an appetite and moves about, although its belly looks like a balloon and one side has developed a large blister. I am afraid that not changing the water for an entire week in such a small system will do the poor betta in, since he is already sick... Well, I guess I have no question to ask in the betta's case.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Masa

[Mattcomptonassvanhorn]

Assuming does not get any food at all then 4 to 5 days, but even if it doesnt get its favorite food in a couple of days that thing will be eatin its own $hit.

[DeLgAdO]

your fish can go afew days to a week without eating. I dont think your arow will go after your other fish it had a big mouth but i dont think i will eat your other fish

now

if you had an 8''rtc instead of an arow, expect everything to be gone when you come back :grinno:

[guppy]

Most fish can easily go without food for a week and your aro doesn't seem big enough to eat the others. It is better to let them get a little hungry than to let them get overfed.

[Miles]

I agree with guppy.. You would be amazed how long fish can fast. Perhaps Juvenile fish should be fed more often. Arrowanas fast in the wild on purpose to strengthen themselves.. A week should be no problem ;)

[nick]

an arrowana in the amazon cant afford to b fat

they constantly jump from the water and snatch birds and insects from tree limbs

no drop-eye here

[Masa_Rov]

Gracias mil for the responses. I very much appreciate them. I will leave with a little peace of mind regarding the tanks.

Masa