Can fish go every other day without food?

[BowieReefer84]

I am going away for 7 days, and I have someone coming to feed my fish. I really don't want to ask them to come every day, as they are not that close. Would every other day be ok if I load the fish up the days before I leave with PE mysis, cyclopeeze, and NLS pellets? I don't think it should be a problem, but want some reassurance.

 

I see no other issues. My ATO has enough water to last about 2 weeks, so that will be more than ok. Two part resevoirs are full as well. I am just OCD, and have not been gone that long with a tank. I rarely travel...

 

Fish include two clowns, sixline, chromi, and a ywg.

 

Thanks,

Mike

[Almon]

Some people feed their fish only 2 or 3 times a week.

[Chad]

Every other day will be fine. I have done this with my seahorses once or twice a year without issue (well, in complete disclosure, I did lose one once, but I that particular seahorse was havins issues before I left and I knew it was iffy even if I would have been around).

 

Not sure how familiar your help will be with salt water tanks, but it is probably a good idea to separate the food into "single servings." I usually use either zip locks or those small cups they sell to put stuff like mouth wash in.

 

Also, I would have someone familiar with your system on standby just in case.

[roni]

Every other day will be fine. I have done this with my seahorses once or twice a year without issue (well, in complete disclosure, I did lose one once, but I that particular seahorse was havins issues before I left and I knew it was iffy even if I would have been around).

 

Not sure how familiar your help will be with salt water tanks, but it is probably a good idea to separate the food into "single servings." I usually use either zip locks or those small cups they sell to put stuff like mouth wash in.

 

Also, I would have someone familiar with your system on standby just in case.

 

every other day should work fine. I usually use cubes for when people are feeding the tank. having individual portions doled out is another strategy. Portion control is key, as are labels on your food.

[BowieReefer84]

Every other day will be fine. I have done this with my seahorses once or twice a year without issue (well, in complete disclosure, I did lose one once, but I that particular seahorse was havins issues before I left and I knew it was iffy even if I would have been around).

 

Not sure how familiar your help will be with salt water tanks, but it is probably a good idea to separate the food into "single servings." I usually use either zip locks or those small cups they sell to put stuff like mouth wash in.

 

Also, I would have someone familiar with your system on standby just in case.

 

 

Yea, single servings are a good idea. For full disclosure it is my mom coming to feed them. She used to feed them when I lived at home, so I am not worried about her dumping in too much. It's about a 35 min drive each way though, and that's a lot to ask every day. I have a friend who is really into saltwater that could come over in an emergency. If anything it will be good for me to keep my hands out of the tank for a week...

[roni]

why not ask a neighbor? we have had 2 different neighbors feed the fish without any incident (and neither knew anything about aquariums, let alone reefs)

[BowieReefer84]

why not ask a neighbor? we have had 2 different neighbors feed the fish without any incident (and neither knew anything about aquariums, let alone reefs)

 

I just moved into this condo about 6 months ago, and we have not really met anyone. I have thousands of dollars in golf equipment, and would not feel comfortable with someone I did not know (other stuff of value too, but I only care about the clubs). Believe me though that I definately considered this! I am going to make an effort to meet someone for the future.

[Supernova26]

As far as portion control I use those weekly vitamin holders. Works really good. Amazon has the eheim automatic feed for $25.00. It's not a bad investment.

[Chad]

^and Jon Lazar has an awesome DIY project to link it to a controller

[Der ABT]

As far as portion control I use those weekly vitamin holders. Works really good. Amazon has the eheim automatic feed for $25.00. It's not a bad investment.

 

 

If you get the ehiem MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE BATTERIES, the Lenzo batteries that come with it (i think thats the brand they are yellow and red) will KILL YOUR TANK.....when they get warm they are the old style battery with a carbon rod that will back out and push the back cover off of the feeder...happened to me and i believe CoralHind had the same experience twice but he got lucky and nothing went in the tank unlike me.

 

As long as you switch to a diff battery and maybe tape up the back they work great.

 

Fish should be fine, and understand the neighbors at a condo, you just never know when they are moving out.

[extreme_tooth_decay]

When I go away for 7 days, I don't bother to feed them at all.

[jason the filter freak]

if you have a well establsihed tank and a reasonable bioload your fish should be fine unless you end up with any super picky eaters

[L8 2 RISE]

Don't feed when you're away if it's less than two weeks, your tank will be MORE than fine and it will avoid any possible issues. All I do is get someone to come over, tell me if the fish are SWIMMING (this is important because, for some reason, fish lying on the floor half decayed means they're just sleeping to a lot of people, even smart ones), tell me if the corals have color, and tell me what the temp is. It takes about 2 seconds for them and avoids issue for you.