Hey, just wondering what kind of vacation feeders I can leave for my cichlids since I am going away for christmas. What would be ideal? I don't really know anyone trustworthy enough to babysit so............any ideas?
Vacation Feeders......
- Thread starter bluestarflowerfish
- Start date
How long are you going to be gone? I have left fish up to 14 days without food (the right conditions were used).
I would not go that long again, but I would not have a problem leaving them for up to a week unfed. For a few weeks before hand, start beefing them up with nutritionally packed food. About a week out reduce to normal feedings with daily water changes. 2-3 days before you go, feed as much as they will eat for each feeding, skipping the last day to clear our their systems. As close as possible before leaving, do a large water change.
When you return, feed them the same nutritionally sound food after another good water change. A few days of good feeding and they will be back to normal.
I would not go that long again, but I would not have a problem leaving them for up to a week unfed. For a few weeks before hand, start beefing them up with nutritionally packed food. About a week out reduce to normal feedings with daily water changes. 2-3 days before you go, feed as much as they will eat for each feeding, skipping the last day to clear our their systems. As close as possible before leaving, do a large water change.
When you return, feed them the same nutritionally sound food after another good water change. A few days of good feeding and they will be back to normal.
I kinda thought about turning the heaters down so the water would cool to kind of put them in a hibernation state so they don't feel like eating much.
I don't know what specific cichlids you have, but I would bet they don't hibernate in the wild. Turning down the temp would probably just kill them. As long as you don't have the temp elevated too much (to the point where it will boost metabolism), you won't see that as an issue.
I thought about buying some live plants to sustain them for a few days, I'll be gone from the 17th-1st
save some money and dont. You know those binding agents that keep is undissolved? Not bad for your tank, but def not needed.
Seriously, if you want 2 seasoned keepers advice: Just leave them.
Java moss will have microorganisms that your fish can eat, but then again if you don't QT it before you stick it in your tank you could kill all your fish. Not likely, but do you want to take that risk?
In the wild fish are opportunistic feeders, which means their bodies have adapted into holding energy for a long time "just in case" they can't find any food for a while.
Seriously, if you want 2 seasoned keepers advice: Just leave them.
Java moss will have microorganisms that your fish can eat, but then again if you don't QT it before you stick it in your tank you could kill all your fish. Not likely, but do you want to take that risk?
In the wild fish are opportunistic feeders, which means their bodies have adapted into holding energy for a long time "just in case" they can't find any food for a while.
One thing you can do is "prepackage" the food you want fed to your fish and threaten the person with death about only feeding the prepacked food.