Your vacation may not necessitate feeding your fish while away; however, for longer trips it may be worthwhile using battery-operated feeders filled with flake or pellet food and set to release food over an extended period (up to two weeks).
Be sure to instruct your helper not to overfeed the fish; excessive food may pollute their aquarium and even kill them. For short trips, consider purchasing weekend or weeklong blocks of slow-release vacation food for added peace of mind.
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1. Hire a Fish Sitter
An effective way to ensure the care and wellbeing of your fish while you’re away is hiring a professional fish sitter, especially if your trip exceeds one week.
Before leaving, ensure the tank is clean by changing out about one third of the water and checking temperature settings to make sure everything is as intended. Also replace filters if necessary.
An automatic feeder for fish may also help, dispensing flakes or pellets at preprogrammed intervals. Easy to set, these models include both electric plug-in models as well as battery-operated dispensers; simply load up your feeder with whatever food type you intend to feed and program its timer for each day of your vacation.
Prior to leaving for vacation, be sure to inform your pet sitter of all aspects of your aquarium, including species details and any requirements needed by each fish species. Leave your contact number along with emergency supplies such as an extra air pump in case any unexpected issues arise while you are gone.
2. Automatic Feeders
Automatic feeders are an ideal way to keep goldfish fed while traveling, providing you with complete control over when to feed them and dispensing exactly the right amount. They’re battery-operated devices that allow users to program how often their fish should be fed while dispensing just enough food each time – flakes or pellets work just fine in these feeders, making them perfect for aquarium owners who plan on only short trips away from home.
Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to check on your fish and aquarium while you’re away for at least one week; but make sure they understand exactly how your set-up and care requirements vary from theirs.
Many aquarium owners recommend feeding aquarium fish a slow-release vacation food block when away, however Dr. Sanders cautions against its use for goldfish and other tropical fish species. It was designed for pond environments and requires adequate filtration systems for proper dissolution; most tropical fish species don’t know how to eat from block-like foods, potentially leading to ammonia spikes which will be detrimental for them.
3. Slow-Release Vacation Food Blocks
Some companies produce blocks of fish food designed to feed your pets while you’re away, known as weekend feeder blocks or holiday feeding blocks and typically lasting two weeks. Each block is composed of compressed fish food that slowly releases itself into the water over time.
As part of your aquarium preparation for vacation, be sure to do a water change and vacuum out the substrate, along with feeding your fish both the day prior and right before leaving home.
Be mindful that certain fish might ignore these slow-release blocks altogether, while others might consume one but cause it to dissipate into cloudy aquarium water (hence why only adding one at a time is recommended). Whatever type of feeder you opt for, always monitor your goldfish closely while on vacation to ensure they’re eating and doing okay.
4. A Fish-Loving Friend
Appointing a trustworthy friend or family member as your goldfish feeder can give you peace of mind while away. Just make sure they possess experience in aquarium care – otherwise your fish could end up getting overfed, or fed the wrong type of food!
If you opt for this approach, be sure to test the feeder several days in advance and choose someone who knows how to operate a tank heater correctly and maintain a stable water temperature. In addition, consider cultivating some kind of algae (elodea or chaeto) on a large rock before leaving home (your goldfish may enjoy snacking on it! Just ensure any live food introduced into your aquarium has been thoroughly rinsed first – otherwise disease-causing organisms could enter).
