Piranha babysitter

[Foster]

I'm going on vacation for around a week and have my brother babysitting the fish. Last time I tried this it was only for 4 days and he managed to feed them way too much because I just told him "feed them the talapia on Saturday" was a bit too basic.

5 6-8 inch piranha, 2 loaches and 40 or so odd convicts that don't get ate in the 120 gal tank.

I made him a scoop for the pellets so this time he wont feed them whatever looks good. The scoop holds around .5 oz- 1 oz, I'm thinking telling him once a day unless he feeds something else? I think he will remember better that way.

I plan on leaving him 15 frozen crickets and a bucket of 20 nightcrawlers because those shouldn't mess up the water as fast as other things like raw fish that leaves bigger chunks.

I'm thinking about telling him no raw meat until weds at soonest figuring I should be home friday/saturday to clean up any messes.

Since I won't have cell service im leaving the MFK website adress behind so if he does screw something up he might be smart enough to get help.

Am I missing anything? Do the numbers look ok? They should hopefully be fine WC wise since I'm doing one Thursday and Friday before I go.

 

[Angler]

At 6-8 inches, they will be fine without food for a week, especially with Convicts to pick off. Since he fed too much the first time, I wouldn't risk it - especially with the nightcrawlers and crickets. Much smarter to just let them go without food for a week.

 

[FishingOut]

I think your making it way too complicated. Id say just get 2 premeasured cups of food. They will be fine for days without food. Just have him throw in the measured cup every 2-3 days. That way there is not chance of him messing anything up and you coming home to dead fish. They can go weeks even months without food. You might not have any cons left, but at least the P's will eat well haha jk

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

Have you considered putting them in baggies or something with just the right amount for each day? He can just grab a baggie and feed the entire content. If you want somethin feed on a certain day you can just write that day on it. Sounds like you have great intentions and are trying to plan everything out, i just don't want to hear he messed it up when you get back.

on a side note, i don't even bother with getting someone to feed once my piranhas hit the 5-6 inch mark. I'd only want someone to come in and feed once if i were gone a week.

 

[knifegill]

Keep your brother away from your fish. I've seen at least 20 threads that talk about how family or friends killed their fish while away on vacation. Just let them fast. Seriously.

 

[Dayvydp]

Keep your brother away from your fish. I've seen at least 20 threads that talk about how family or friends killed their fish while away on vacation. Just let them fast. Seriously.

I agree. It's not to be mean, but a lot of times, friends and family aren't as informed as the person who keeps the particular fish. I know they have good intentions and don't want them to starve. But sometimes too much caring can lead to death x_x

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

for a week just let them fast with all those convicts in their i highly doubt they will starve or cannabalize each other.

once the p's are at the 6" mark they don't need to be fed every day anyway i only usualy feed mine every 2-3 days.

 

[biohazardcustomz]

i agree, let them fast. or have him feed them once. luckily my family just forget to feed my fish never kill or overfeed. but im never gone more than 2 days. i wouldnt chance it.

 

[Foster]

on a side note, i don't even bother with getting someone to feed once my piranhas hit the 5-6 inch mark. I'd only want someone to come in and feed once if i were gone a week.

It isn't as much of a come in to feed as a go out and feed. He lives in the same house right now and walks by the fish tank a few times a day. I think I'm just doing the worried mother thing since I normally feed them at least every other day if not every day even if they are too big for it. Dropping to skipping a week suddenly sounds like a bad plan. but it does sound like I need to ditch the live food altogether though.

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

It isn't as much of a come in to feed as a go out and feed. He lives in the same house right now and walks by the fish tank a few times a day. I think I'm just doing the worried mother thing since I normally feed them at least every other day if not every day even if they are too big for it. Dropping to skipping a week suddenly sounds like a bad plan. but it does sound like I need to ditch the live food altogether though.

Yeah, you probably have a semi regular feeding schedule going that isn't random enough so i would be worried if i was going to go cold turkey like that and not be around to keep an eye on them.

May be an opportunity to knock off some of those convicts you love though!

I'd have him feed twice while you're gone and seperate the food out for him so he just needs to dump that in only