[Q] feeding during vacation?

[Steve Weinberg]

It's vacation time!! What should I do for the 7 days we
will be gone.

I saw a "vacation food block" by Aquarium Pharmaceutical.
Are these any good?

Any other suggestions? I have seen the auto-feeders as well, but Id
rather not buy one if the food block will sufice.

I have about 10 smaller fish (Tetra and Rams) 1 medium Discus and several
Corydoras in a 29 gal planted tank.

TIA,
Steve

[patrick timlin]

Steve Weinberg (s...@netcom.com) wrote:
: It's vacation time!! What should I do for the 7 days we
: will be gone.

Nothing! Just feed well (but not overly so) until you leave. Also do a
water change the day before you leave (partial water change that is).
You'r fish will be fine for seven days without food. Most fish will do
fine for up to two weeks.

: I saw a "vacation food block" by Aquarium Pharmaceutical.
: Are these any good?

No they suck! They are basically Plaster of Paris with bits of food
inbedded in the block. They release food by slowly dissolving in your
tank. Hence, you get a nice block of pollution in your tank screwing up
the water conditions.

: Any other suggestions? I have seen the auto-feeders as well, but Id

: rather not buy one if the food block will sufice.

I have not used one so I can not comment, but again, for your seven days,
your fish will be fine.

: I have about 10 smaller fish (Tetra and Rams) 1 medium Discus and several

: Corydoras in a 29 gal planted tank.

Hmmm not sure how sensitive the Discus will be to a week without food,
but all the other will definately do fine. Discus fish prefer softer
water, so the food block is definately out since the plaster has the
effect of hardening the water.

Patrick Timlin pti...@lynx.dac.neu.edu
or
patrick...@adex.ccmail.compuserve.com

[Mack Brewer]

Steve Weinberg wrote:
>
> It's vacation time!! What should I do for the 7 days we
> will be gone.
>

> I saw a "vacation food block" by Aquarium Pharmaceutical.
> Are these any good?
>

> Any other suggestions? I have seen the auto-feeders as well, but Id
> rather not buy one if the food block will sufice.
>

> I have about 10 smaller fish (Tetra and Rams) 1 medium Discus and several
> Corydoras in a 29 gal planted tank.
>

> TIA,
> Steve

Just a week?

Feed them several times a day (just a bit of course) before
you leave to "fatten" them up, then make sure you leave all your tank
lights off and just leave them alone, they'll be fine.
In the dark their metabolism slows down and they go quiet.
A week without food will just slim them down a bit and get rid of
any excess fat, and the plants you mentioned will let them graze
if they really get desperate.
Not as if there were a couple of Cichlids in there that turn
nasty when hungry. <g>
As a plus, the corys will have really cleaned the tank thoroughly
by the time you get back.
Hope this helps ease your mind.

Mack Brewer

[Terence Lai]

s...@netcom.com (Steve Weinberg) wrote:
>It's vacation time!! What should I do for the 7 days we
>will be gone.
>I saw a "vacation food block" by Aquarium Pharmaceutical.
>Are these any good?
>Any other suggestions? I have seen the auto-feeders as well, but Id
>rather not buy one if the food block will sufice.
>I have about 10 smaller fish (Tetra and Rams) 1 medium Discus and several
>Corydoras in a 29 gal planted tank.

Since you'll be away for only 1 week, I don't think the auto-feeder
worth it (It cost around $20-$30 CDN!). I would like to say just leave
it alone for the week, but I'm not sure what'll happen to your Discus
though. The best way I can think of is see if you can find one of your
friend come to your place once (i.e., 3 days after you've gone) to
feed your fishes. They should be fine without food for 3 to 4 days.
But if you are going away for long (e.g., 3 weeks or longer), the
auto-feeder maybe a good idea.

Terence