Based on your length of absence and type of fish in your aquarium, it may be possible to forgo feeding entirely. Consult a Petbarn team member in your local store for guidance.
If you plan on feeding your fish while on holiday, an automatic feeder may be a great solution. Before heading off on vacation, however, make sure that you have tested it first.
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1. Feeding Blocks
Feeding blocks provide an efficient and effortless solution for feeding your fish while you’re away. Contained within these slow release blocks is freeze-dried fish food which gradually breaks down over days to release its nutrition into the tank. Feeder blocks typically contain low protein counts and help minimize water pollution; however they do place some additional demands on aquarium maintenance due to waste released when breaking down and the consumption of oxygen as the blocks decompose.
Many feeding block products are tailored specifically for various aquarium fish species, so be sure to carefully read through its packaging in order to select an option that will keep your aquarium fish alive during your absence.
Keep in mind that some of these blocks use chalk as filler, and it is not uncommon for owners to return home and find their aquarium filled with white powder and dead fish.
2. Ask a Neighbour
Fish can survive without food for extended periods in nature due to storing energy as body protein and fat tissue, however this isn’t usually an option when keeping tropical species. Consulting someone experienced with keeping fish could be useful as they will understand that temperature needs to be maintained as well as checking on tank conditions; additionally they will know that fish need regular feeding schedules as they won’t tolerate sudden diet changes as easily.
If your neighbour lacks experience in taking care of fish, suggest they use one of the holiday feeders available – densely packed blocks which release food over time – however these may be overeaten by fish.
3. Holiday Feeders
Dependent upon the species and quantity of tropical fish you own as well as how long you plan on being away, you may opt not to feed your tropical aquarium while on holiday. Sedentary carnivorous fish typically handle gaps between meals well by tapping into stored energy from muscles or fat stores to fill any shortfalls in nutrition.
However, if you plan on leaving your aquarium unattended for several days, it may be best to seek professional advice or ask an aquarist who knows about feeding fish for advice. An unfamiliar person could overfeed your fish which could result in sudden drops in water quality and create other issues.
Holiday feeder blocks can be programmed to dispense predetermined amounts of fish food at predetermined times, making your life simpler while you’re away. They should work fine as long as there is enough food in them – these usually resemble rocks or fish shapes and come in multiple time-release lengths (from 2-3 days up to 14 day blocks).
4. Feeding Your Fish
No matter if it is just for a weekend or two weeks abroad, being prepared is key for successful holidaying with fish. So long as aquarium water levels remain stable and someone nearby is available to feed your aquarium, feeding shouldn’t be an issue while on holiday. Underfeeding is usually better for your fish; therefore if using block food or commercial feeders is something you are concerned about testing before going away for longer vacations to ensure optimal outcomes.
Before traveling, it is a smart idea to have someone inspect your aquarium. Fish can become very stressed if their temperatures abruptly change, so having your local fish shop online or aquatic veterinarian check on their health is advised as otherwise you could return with sick or dead tropical fish!
