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Hey ya'll
OK so i have someone to feed my fish while im gone for the week, but she wont change the water. Now i usually change about 20% twice a week, wed. and sat. so would it be better to do it today? or wait until next saturday when i get home? I wasnt sure if you could change the water too much!
THanks
Sam

I would give the tank a water change before you go.
I wouldnt bother with feeding for a week, the fish will be fine for a week, and from experience friends who dont keep fish dont know how much to feed them no matter how well you have explained it to them. I've come back to sick fish twice and now dont get anyone to feed them when we go away.
If you feel you really must have them fed then get some small containers and put the rations of food into them for your friend to put in the tank. Get him/her to feed every second day and HIDE the original containers away. Both my friends fed the rations of food then went to the container to give them more. The tank was awful when I got back and thats the last thing you need to face when you get home.

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Lindy is right. Never trust anyone to feed your fish, especially if it's just for a week. Just put your lighting on a timer and leave. You will come back to healthy fish and a very clean tank.
If you absolutely must leave food with your friend, then leave it in a pill box that has the days labeled on it.

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The calming qualities of a good aquarium are irrefutable

i also agree the fish will be fine. You can even drop the temp a few degrees if your house will be at a stable temperature, so as to reduce metabolism.

If you can't get someone sober to feed your fish reliably, and don't feel comfortable leaving them for a week, there is always the magic of automatic feeders

And if you don't trust the magic of a automatic feeder, instead of daily feeding give them measured ammounts as was suggested but tell them to only come once or twice...tell them tues and thurs or something like that.

Although I fully agree, a week will be fine.
Depending on the fish that is .

^_^
[hr width='40%']"There’s an emptiness inside her. And she’d do anything to fill it in.
And though it’s red blood bleeding from her now. It's more like cold blue ice in her heart.
She feels like kicking out all the windows. And setting fire to this life."

I don't trust auto feeders after hearing they got moisture inside and malfunctioned. Not only that, but moldy food potential - very deadly to fish.

What I did when I went on vacation was to premeasure my food for the days I wanted the fish fed, into pill bottles. The pharmacy was kind enough to give me 7 after I told them I would pay for them. Once they understood that I wanted it so the fish couldn't be overfed, they didn't mind giving them to me.

However, I have purchased a new pill holder set with individual containers. They are clear plastic and there is a different color for each day - easier than using a pill container that is all-in-one. HOwever, that would work too - by opening only one day and spilling it in.

You could probably just have someone feed them twice while you are away, but people who don't have fish always want to give so much more food and end up polluting the tank.

I would probably do that 20% change before you leave, careful to ensure the temp is not altered more than 1-1.5F (nothing like a case of ick while you are away ).

Always leave a phone number or way for a caretaker to get you. It makes them feel more secure should they run into a problem (pump stopped, dead fish, sickness, etc.).

I use the pill boxes (all in one, with 7 compartments, each marked for a day of the week.) It has worked out beautifully. I have one for each tank.

In addition, HIDE THE REST OF YOUR FISH FOOD. Sometimes "well-meaning" people can't resist the temptation to overfeed because it looks like you didn't leave enough food.

I hide mine in a drawer

Have a nice vacation

I agree with the water change before you leave and then I wouldn't worry about having anyone feeding them. I've kept fish for over 30 years and being gone many times have not had anyone come in and feed for me. I've never had a loss while gone

Don't know if I was just lucky, but I just have a hard time trusting others that don't keep fish with feeding them.

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

THanks for all the replys!

Ill do a water change today, and just leave a small amount of food for say wednesday for her to feed them?

Sam

Sounds like a plan

hopefully they don't mess it up
Something I've found helful with my fishsitters is to explain that too much food is actually bad.

^_^
[hr width='40%']"There’s an emptiness inside her. And she’d do anything to fill it in.
And though it’s red blood bleeding from her now. It's more like cold blue ice in her heart.
She feels like kicking out all the windows. And setting fire to this life."[/font]

Yea, shes my roomate in my apt. so shes knows how nuts i am about my fish....and shes good with them. I am goin to measure out just enough and hide the rest of the food!!
Hopefully they will be ok.....
Sam

good idea. fish should bew able to go a week without being fed with no problems at all. In addition, not feeding them you will have less waste and therefore les to worry about your water for the week. I've left my guys for 4-5 days at a time and came back to perfectly normal fish. btw, I personally would not trust someone else to feed them but that is up to you, At least she is someone who knows the fish and they know her.