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Hello

I'm off on holiday for two and a half weeks and want some advice on keeping my fish happy. (It's the first time I've left them longer than a couple of days). I have one 25g with 5 black widows and 2 platys and one 10g with a Betta.

I have a very reliable friend going to come round to feed them. I'm going to suggest every 3 days as the 29g tankmates seemed happy enough after leaving them for a long weekend. Will this be ok for the Betta? Also I'm currently feeding the Betta around 3 pellets a day - should I increase the number of pellets if he's only getting fed every 3 days?

The tanks have just completed their cycle so the Ammonia and Nitrite levels are 0. What would be the recommended water change before I go? I was thinking about 25%.

Tanks in advance for your words of wisdom!

hi there fishymama

Go ahead and do a 30% or so water change on the 29 gallon, and 50% change on the 10 gallon with the betta...I'd go ahead and add an extra airstone to the tank unless you are already like me and have several or some already in it, just to add some extra circulation...

Feeding them every 2-3 days is fine, and I've been told that they can do just fine going 2 weeks without food as long as they have live plants in the tank for them to nibble on, but if you're like me it does seem a bit long...I wouldn't have your buddy turn the lights on, but leave them off, and as winter is coming be sure that they know where a blanket or two is incase you lose electricity...and as for feeding the betta see if he will eat 5 pieces a day, if he does great leave it at that if not, stay with your 3 or 4 a day...just have your buddy watch to see if he'll eat it or not...

Have fun and don't worry, but make sure your buddy knows how to care for them, and maybe even a number to get ahold of you or someone else that knows what to do in an emergency, heidi

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Remember when old ones died and new were born
And life was changed, disassembled, rearranged
We came together, fell apart
And broke each other's hearts, Remember when
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Last edited by heidi michelle at 22-May-2005 22:16

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

When I go on vacation with my family, a friend of mine stays at the house to take care of the animals. For the fish I use Dixie cups to put measured amounts of food in, then label them each with date that the fish are to be fed. That way, you know everything's getting done right. If you're worried about freshness, you could put platic wrap over the cups or use plastic sealable bags instead.

HTH

><>Dani<><

Thanks guys

I have my lights on timer. Is it really a good idea to leave them off for the 2 weeks? Or should I reduce the amount of time they are on for? (I thought they might also be a good burglar deterrent to see light on from the windows.)

aha, i forgot some use timersok lots of people do, i'm just old fashion and haven't gotten to that point yet

and dani's idea is a good one, then there is that plastic wrap they make now that seals to itself to make pouches out of...and the snack size baggies, or whatever you can imagine to divide it out, maybe even small envelopes? To be honest I never thought about doing it that way, I've just managed to train/teach a bunch of my kiddos how to feed the fish if I am absent, and it's usually a fight at times of who is going to feed them...and I so seldom have had to feed them anymore, though I do on occassion, they have truly become the classes fish, anyways, do what dani said, and keep the lights on the timer...and enjoy the trip...heidi

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember when old ones died and new were born
And life was changed, disassembled, rearranged
We came together, fell apart
And broke each other's hearts, Remember when
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

fishymama

When I go on a fishing trip usually two weeks. The good wife looks after the one 5ft tank I have.

I print out the daily feeding program, when, what and how much(measuring spoon). I have prepared two large 50Lt containers full of prepared water. Emergency phone numbers (as I am often in an area that cannot be reached by the phone) I also ring home every night if possible.

With the water the wife takes out two liters evey morning and replaces it with the prepared water. Also keeps check on the water level this might require an extra topping up as well. Never had a problem in the last 10 years.

It is all in the planning and the trust that the person doing the job is following your instructions.

Keith

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