I am going on vacation in about a month for 6 days. I was wanting to know what you guys do when you go on trips this long? What to tell the fish sitter and all that. Also any tips would help. Since I am going to make a purchase of about 7 Multies a few weeks before we leave I am scared to leave them xD.
Vacation
- Thread starter Ryan75
- Start date
For a 6 day trip I'd just have the fish sitter (if they are non-fish keepers) to do light feedings. But what I would do is that I would put their food in a baggy for each day as some non-fish keepers don't know what a light feeding is.
So if you want them fed every day, get out six baggies and put what food you want in there. That way all they have to do is dump the bag into the tank - makes it easy on them. And since you're not going to be around for water changes I'd just do light feedings with a water change the night before you leave.
So if you want them fed every day, get out six baggies and put what food you want in there. That way all they have to do is dump the bag into the tank - makes it easy on them. And since you're not going to be around for water changes I'd just do light feedings with a water change the night before you leave.
I use the plastic pill box's marked with the days of the week on them which some pharmacy's will even give away free. Fill up each one with a small amount of food and instruct the sitter to feed that days worth only. And to just feed once a day. These light feedings will keep your fish going just fine and will not compromise water quality too quickly. Also agree with Aqualoon to do a water change the night before you leave.
I leave for vacation in a few weeks myself.. all of my fish are fairly older. only 1 beign a "juvi" yet... we have someone coming to check on the fish mid-week. and to do a feeding then. really depends on species needs.. most of my fish are predetory so a fast isn't an issue for them.. and over-all better for the tanks while we're gone since they will produce less waste dureing that time so a water change won't be needed while we are gone. we will also do a large water change the day before we leave ( which will be slightly larger then normal but nothing overly abnormal to our normal schedule).
the biggest thing that happen when fish-tanks are "baby-sat" is often over-feeding. may be a PITA but leave a writen list of directons, a number to get ahold of you... and stress not to over-feed or do anything else you would be worried about. My parents joke that we worry more about our fish then our cat when we leave town. I always make sure whoever is doing the babysitting that it's better to call me if something looks off then to wait until they know it is. particulalry if non-fishy peopel are watching them... since usually when they notice it.. it's something already "major"
the biggest thing that happen when fish-tanks are "baby-sat" is often over-feeding. may be a PITA but leave a writen list of directons, a number to get ahold of you... and stress not to over-feed or do anything else you would be worried about. My parents joke that we worry more about our fish then our cat when we leave town. I always make sure whoever is doing the babysitting that it's better to call me if something looks off then to wait until they know it is. particulalry if non-fishy peopel are watching them... since usually when they notice it.. it's something already "major"
Thanks! I was scared to go on vacation because there is no one around me that is fish savvy. I told my mom i'm not going because I don't want any of my fish to die lol. But you guys fixed all of that. The baggy sounds the best because there is no way to overfeed then. I will have the "sitter" come watch me do it once or twice. The most tricky animal I probably have is my 2 axolotl because they are so lazy I drop the food right over there mouth, so they won't like to go searching for any.
Hello; I have been gone for several days many times and up to a week several times in fifty years. I would give my tanks a slightly heavier feeding for a day or two before leaving If I knew ahead of time, otherwise the fish were not fed at all. I cannot recall actually losing fish when doing this, but have lost fish when well meaning, but uninformed, friends would overfeed. Healthy fish can go for six days without problems in my experience.
There were a few years when jobs would keep me away except for weekends. I used the battery powered automatic feeders. They will run for over a month. It takes a few days to get the feedings adjusted, so set them up well before the actual trip. I also found that some food do not work well in those things.
I got into a bind on one job and had to be gone three weeks. Set the lights on timers and used the battery feeders. Did a water change right before leaving. All was fine.
There were a few years when jobs would keep me away except for weekends. I used the battery powered automatic feeders. They will run for over a month. It takes a few days to get the feedings adjusted, so set them up well before the actual trip. I also found that some food do not work well in those things.
I got into a bind on one job and had to be gone three weeks. Set the lights on timers and used the battery feeders. Did a water change right before leaving. All was fine.
Heres what I do.. A few days before I go somewhere for long vacations.. I feed my fish a little bit more than I usually do(This isn't necessary though) then the day I'm set to leave, I do a big water change(50%-80%). I also have a friend that I bring over during this time to show her what to do when I'm gone. I let her do a water change on the tank and if she has any problems I answer them very thoroughly. I usually tell her do a water change every other day lol(25%). Most fish can survive a couple weeks to a month without food but this is kinda cruel to just stop feeding your fish lol. I just tell my friend to feed very little every other day she comes to do water changes.
Heres a simple rule that most fishkeepers forget, The more you feed, the more water changes you have to do. Feeding as little as possible helps keep the water cleaner. HTH's, Good luck.
Heres a simple rule that most fishkeepers forget, The more you feed, the more water changes you have to do. Feeding as little as possible helps keep the water cleaner. HTH's, Good luck.
You are not going to believe this but I don't do anything. They can go 6 days without food. The only thing I do not do is a gravel cleaning because they can always find a little something in the substrate.