How to feed and care for fish while vacationing

Whenever holidays come around the corner, and you are in the mood of vacationing the only thing that concerns the most is who will look after the fish. Have you ever been in the same situation? Of course, the answer would be yes. Every aquarist who loves traveling faces the dilemma often. What is its solution?

Well, here we will discuss the ways which can keep your fish well-maintained while you are on vacation. Wondering if this is possible? Go ahead and find the different methods which can automatically feed your fish and maintain the water quality in your absence.

Feeding

Generally, people ask someone if they could visit their home from time to time to feed the fish. But taking obligation like this is not everyone’s cup of tea. Also, it is not possible that there will always be availability of someone to babysit the fish. The fear of fish starving to death becomes obvious.

But you don’t have to worry anymore because now even in your absence neither the fish will starve nor die. There are many options which are feasible, practical, effective and retain the health and well-being of your fish when you are not around them.

All that you need to keep in mind is feed a bit less than usual for a few days before going for the holiday. It will minimize the bioload of the fish, in which the ammonia spikes up when the food rots away.

One of the most useful equipment to use in such cases is automatic feeder machine. Although this equipment is not an inexpensive one, if you love your fish as well as traveling you have to invest in it. Spending money on it will assure that you don’t have to worry about feeding your fish while you are not around them.

Automatic feeder machine works as per your commands. You have to fill it up with the fish food and set the times you want it to feed the fish. It sends the feed in the aquarium in your set time which fish can eat easily. You can find plenty of automatic feeders in the store from different brands. It is advised to buy only after reading the reviews of fellow aquarists to get the best product.

Another way is having a fish sitter which was also the only option before the automatic feeders come into the scene. If you are going for many days or a month, relying just on a machine might become a bad decision. Being a machine, it might stop working after a few days which could cost you your fish.

Therefore in such cases, it will be better to have someone who can peek inside your house now and then to look whether the machine is working fine or not. If you did not have an automatic feeder, you might also ask the person to feed the fish after regular intervals.

Few things which need to keep in mind while getting a fish sitter are

• If they are non-aquarists, you need to instruct them in detail how much quantity of feed is required.
• You may use pillboxes and scribble the dates on which they need to be given to the fish. It will eliminate the confusion of the person if any.
• Teach them how to check whether the automatic feeder is working properly or not, the temperature is still within the range or not and other small details.

The third and also the last option to choose is- not feeding the fish at all. No, it is not cruel. There are certain species of fish that can live easily for a fortnight without having any food. So, if you are going only for a few days and your fish fall under the same species, not feeding can also opt.

Non-feeding is best if your fish are already in good health, swirling with fun and happily enjoying inside the tank. Give them food on the day you are leaving and let them remain without it for the next couple of days. It minimizes the risk of anything going wrong with the fish sitter. Moreover, the chances like food rotting, ammonia spiking will all come to a halt.

What you need to do before going

Listed below are the few important do’s that should be kept in mind before heading out for the vacation.

• Automatic timer for the lights: Both fish and plants require the certain intensity of light for thriving in the aquarium. If kept in the dark for longer duration their health and well-being may come under question. Therefore never forget setting the automatic timer for your lights.
• Instruct the fish sitter: If you are lucky enough to get a fish sitter, make sure you explain him everything in detail. Right from the feeding schedule, feed quantity to checking the temperature and water quality- all must be taught properly. During summers you must tell how to control the rising water temperature to prevent fish death due to shock.
• Let your fish sitter see you performing: If you are asking the fish sitter to change the aquarium water in your absence make sure he knows the process really well. One wrong step may cost you your precious fish. Therefore, let him see you changing the water beforehand so that he can understand how to do it.
• Last minute check: Before you head out, make sure everything is on the right track. Take a glance over the water quality. Check the water temperature; make sure all the equipment including water thermometer and automatic feeder are working as they should. Check every fish and become double sure that each one of them is in a healthy state.

Conclusion

Coming back home after many days and seeing your swirling creatures doing just fine is a delight. If you follow the above steps, I am sure you will find all your fish swimming happily inside their water ecosystem. All that you need to do once you come back is checking everything all over again. Look at your fish and plants as for whether they are doing fine or not. Also check the other parameters like water temperature, water quality, filters, etc.