What do you do for your fish while on vacation?

[Campfiregirl]

Super curious as what to do in case my Husband and I go on vacation. Do you auto feed pellets? If so, what kind? We've been giving our clown pellets, but they sink too fast and it just doesn't eat off the floor. Any suggestions?

 

[AcroNem]

Depends how long you're going. If it's a few days to a week and you don't keep any sensitive fish that need the daily- multiple times per day feeding then they can be fasted with no issue. Auto feeders can be fine I just don't trust them. A few times I've paid someone to feed or care as per my instructions as we have other animals that need tending to If we're gone. Others may chime in with what they do.

 

[CindyKz]

If we are only going to be gone a few days I rely on the auto - feeder. If it is going to be longer I have my daughter feed frozen (portioned by me before we leave) and change the filter socks. I switch out my usual RO topoff containers for brute cans so the ATO will function without needing to be refilled.

 

[K7BMG]

I agree with the others.
Unless you have inhabitents that require mutiple feedings a day you should be fine for up to a week.
We humans eat all the time, most often by choice rather than need.
Yes good food is great and the more the merrier.
But in the natural world most of the time food is scarse.
Our perception of the fish eating their fill daily in the wild is just that a human induced perception far from reality.

This is not specific to fish but every creature on the planit.
We humans can go without food for some two weeks even longer depending on the situation. Water is another thing altogether.

So if its longer than 7 days get a tank sitter.

Thats my advice.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Don't forget to get them a present. Everyone likes presents from a trip.

Seriously though, I have house sitters and a backup reef keeper when we leave.

 

[Nick Steele]

I’d say clowns are good for a week or two without any added food. If they get hungry they will for sure pick at any pods you have around your tank. We fasted a broodstock room for a week due to a hurricane and slowly increased feeds over two weeks to get back to normal.

 

[Campfiregirl]

Don't forget to get them a present. Everyone likes presents from a trip.

Seriously though, I have house sitters and a backup reef keeper when we leave.

For sure DeniseAndy, every time we've had someone watch our pets, we've bought them a nice treat to say thank you. Got to pay it forward!