I was wondering what to do when we are gone for a few days. A petsitter can feed them and we can hope that she feeds correctly. Teaching her of course, or we can use a vacation feeder. What it the best thing to do?

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I have 5 gorgeous guppies, two Dalmation Mollies, two Mickey Mouse Platys, 6 puffy Moss Balls and 5 tracked Nerite snails. 29 Gallon BioCube tank.

The best vacation feeder for your kind of fish is living plants. All kinds of things grow on them that your fish will feed on while you are gone. I have lost fish when other people have taken care of them. Vacation Tablets are dangerous if you over feed, they polute the water.

Most vacation tabs are mainly plaster, and very little crappy food. Either get a human or battery powered automatic feeder.

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Biologist-Professional Aquarium Care-Published Author (Aquarium Fish International Magazine)

Stocking has NOTHING to do with tank volume, it is all about water changes.

If just for a few days, nothing. I have left mine numerous times, 7+ days each, without any provision for them or any loss. I have friends that have left their fish for close to 3wks with no problems.

Thank you!!!! We will just not feed. Or get a petsitter to feed only once if we are gone a week or more.

We do have live plants and they love getting stuff there and from the moss balls.

I would hate to have horrid water when I got back! Thank you again.

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I have 5 gorgeous guppies, two Dalmation Mollies, two Mickey Mouse Platys, 6 puffy Moss Balls and 5 tracked Nerite snails. 29 Gallon BioCube tank.

I would go with a vacation feeder, there cheaper to pay.

Tetra makes a gel feeder block, you can make this at home. Get some plain gelatin and mix in sime fish food, flakes and bloodwoms if you want. Let it set in fridge, when you leave cut some off that you think will feed them for the amount of time you will be gnu. It works well.

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Tank: 29g:guppies, balloon mollies, swordtail, 2 mollies
Hex: opaline gourami
10g 1F. betta

Good morning sally...

If you're only going to be gone for a few days, the best thing you can do is to feed your fish a little more for a week or two before you leave, but stop the extra food a couple of days before you leave. During that couple of days, do a large water change to clean up any extra food in the tank.

While you're gone, let the fish forage. Fish can easily go a week without food. This way you don't run the risk of someone overfeeding and you come home to a very clean tank.

B

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Low Tech Water Building Keeper

Thank you everyone!

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I have 5 gorgeous guppies, two Dalmation Mollies, two Mickey Mouse Platys, 6 puffy Moss Balls and 5 tracked Nerite snails. 29 Gallon BioCube tank.

I was going to suggest the same as BBury - just feed a tiny extra a few days before (not enough to spike ammonia or anything, but just so their nice and fed) and then they should be good for a week or so. (Fish in the wild go days without finding food, so yours will be ok too.) Enjoy your vacation.

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981