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Ok, I knew the time was coming, and it has come, so here is the question...

This Friday will be the last day of school for my campus for 9 days, so what should I do with my fish? It wouldn't be to hard to bag the two up and bring them home and plop them in another tank, there is room and all...or should I just leave them be? I just don't want to go back to school after Thanksgiving break to have a dead fish or two...the kids have gotten really attached to them...So let me know what ya'll think....

Tanks, Heidi

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

what kind of fish are they? if their tank is big enough and has plants, aerator, heater etc, and if food is the only issue, i'd say leave them there if u can drop in about day 5 to feed them... but if you have the room it might be sensible to take them home so you can care for them. and esp if the kids are attached (know how that is, i'm a teacher too) u might wanna look after them at home.

I am attempting to grow plants from the walmart bulbs, but no luck yet ]:|. I'm sure there won't be heating/airconditioning during the holidays... There isn't a heater in the tank...And they are goldfish...So I'm seriously thinking of bringing them home, just wanted some opinions...since the doors will be locked for the holidays ...I'm thinking though that I'll be adding a snail or two to take care of the tank walls and all over the holidays...here's hoping...anyone else with any other ideas?

By the way what do you teach? I teach 3rd grade language arts (8-9 yr olds reading, spelling, writing, grammar, handwriting)

Tanks, Heidi:%)

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

what about one of those vacation feeder blocks? release bits of food over a period of time thats what i always do... as far as heat i dunno but i assume they won't shut it off completely.. gold fish are pretty hardy and the cold shouldn't affect them to much.

Don

I've heard that those feeder blocks just cause ammonia spikes... I'd stay away from them.

I'd personally get a heater (or use an extra one), and set it to it's lowest setting just to keep the temp decent.

Grab some hornwort, and anacharis from the LFS. These 2 plants are hard to kill, and your goldfish will munch on them. 3-4 feet of each plant should be plenty of food for 9 days. If you've got a flourescent light on a timer in the tank, the plants might grow and replace the bites taken off from the goldfish.

Good luck

I would do as our pinky friend says and plant the tank with a salad bar. I have elodea in mine that if I am away from work for days at a time they munch on.

I recently had an extended absence from work and asked my workmates to feed them a small amount every second day (of course no one is in on weekends). As their feeds were cut back they demolished the elodea but it is better than a grotty tank from over feeding.

You are right to think that the stress would be more by moving them than just eating less food for a few days.

That is what I would do.

Am sure others can give some more details.

All the best...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

they sell automatic feeding machines in the fish section at walmart. I beleive they run on batteries and feed for up to 14 days, good luck.

I would recommend going home on vacation and not worrying about the fish if:
1. You clean the tank well and perform a 50% water change before you leave school,
2. Do not use a vacation feeding block,
3. Clean the tank well and perform a 50% water change when you return.

The goldfish will weather 9 days without food without a problem. My discus have gone two weeks but they were very excited to see me when I came home.

The lack of heat should not cause any problems with goldfish unless the room goes to freezing and the ice cracks your tank. Lower temperatures will slow their metabolism reducing their need for food.

Good luck and have a great Thanksgiving break!

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

i wouldnt do a HUGE 50% waterchange.

It is only 9 days, and if he does water changed every other week, he still wouldnt be due for one, if he did weekly water changes, he would be 2 days overdue.

Plus the 50% waterchanges will def. throw you into a minicycle, and have the chance of fish dieing.

get an automatic feeder and set it on the minimum amount. goldfish are very hardy and can take cold tems. I know of some who even survived a winter in a pond that was frozen ovwer.

I agree with bob, the goldfish will do fine on 9 days with no food. Vacation feeder things explode within hours and do Not let food out a little at a time... They will kill your fish. Maybe just buy a small heater to keep it on a level temp!
Enjoy your break!

________________________________________
The calming qualities of a good aquarium are irrefutable

Thanks folks for the advice...
I've decided to go ahead and take them home, this way I don't have to worry too much...and I am a worry wort if you know me you know how true that is...
I made the decision yesterday morning, when I was trying to figure out how to "Shelter in Place" the goldfish. I did get the kids to "shelter in place first" though, so don't worry there. We were having tornadoes touching down all around us, so we were kept couped up in one room (two classes about 40 of us) with the kids criss cross applesauce, head between you legs, arms/hands over your neck, for over an hour...after the kids were settled, I ran back to my room to put something around the goldies, just to make me feel better.
Thanks so much for the advice, I do appreciate it...Calli will just have to get used to having guests for the week...
Heidi

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