Feeding Africans While On Vacation - Aquarium Advice

tampa · 06-12-2008, 07:59 PM

I have a question about feeding my Mbuna and Peacocks/Haps. We'll be on an extended vacation soon and will be gone for 3 weeks.
We do have someone "watching our place, but they will be here for only about an hour at a time and have absolutely zero knowledge about fish.

What suggestions might anyone have so that when we get back hopefully the fish are all here

Thanks for your input

**Zagz** · 06-12-2008, 08:04 PM

Get one of those pill dispensers and put a feeding in each one for the time you are gone. You can also get a timer for the lights while you are gone.

thatmagicguy · 06-12-2008, 10:22 PM

I like Zagz' answer. If it were a tank of tetras I would say leave them with no one feeding. Fish can go an incredible amount of time in a well established tank without feedings. Africans on the other hand need to be dealt with.

I would put individual feedings in containers as Zagz said. And I would go through the procedure with your surrogate feeder, and tell them you will have their head if they screw up. People inevitably do screw up, usually they feel compelled to feed more, especially if the fish eat ravinously like cichlids do, they feel the fish want more.

Also what happens is that when you portion out daily feedings they think they can put 2-3 days worth in at once so they don't have to feed again for 2-3 days.

I have told my customers to plan feedings to be done every third day, and I would differ from Zagz' opinion on the lights. I would leave the lights off. It will keep the fish a little less active, it also is one less thing to go wrong, surrogate feeders love to turn lights on and off, even with timers, and they alway bump into something.

I would keep it as simple as possible and try to minimize the amount of contact your surrogate has with the fish. Communication is key. Good luck.

Bill

**Fishyfanatic** · 06-16-2008, 12:02 PM

I'd measure out food as well. Buy three of the pill despensors and only give food for a feeding every couple days. The Africans will be fine. Since you will be feeding less there won't be as much of an issue with water quality. You will still come home to higher nitrates but they won't be "as" bad with being fed less.

Stephen · 06-25-2008, 10:28 AM

The only additional suggestion I can make is clean your filter and do a partial water change three to four days before you leave. Otherwise, the others have given sound advice. Leave all the lights off, feed sparingly once every three or four days. Everything should be fine when you get back.

06-12-2008, 07:59 PM	#1
tampa Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 19	Feeding Africans While On Vacation I have a question about feeding my Mbuna and Peacocks/Haps. We'll be on an extended vacation soon and will be gone for 3 weeks. We do have someone "watching our place, but they will be here for only about an hour at a time and have absolutely zero knowledge about fish. What suggestions might anyone have so that when we get back hopefully the fish are all here Thanks for your input

06-12-2008, 08:04 PM	#2
Zagz Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: May 2005 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 10,727 Images: 92	Get one of those pill dispensers and put a feeding in each one for the time you are gone. You can also get a timer for the lights while you are gone. __________________ ------------ Anne My Profile Page My tank & fish photos. Have you voted for AA today? Like the advice or comments someone gave you? Show your appreciation with the reputation button!

06-12-2008, 10:22 PM	#3
thatmagicguy Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: florida Posts: 54	I like Zagz' answer. If it were a tank of tetras I would say leave them with no one feeding. Fish can go an incredible amount of time in a well established tank without feedings. Africans on the other hand need to be dealt with. I would put individual feedings in containers as Zagz said. And I would go through the procedure with your surrogate feeder, and tell them you will have their head if they screw up. People inevitably do screw up, usually they feel compelled to feed more, especially if the fish eat ravinously like cichlids do, they feel the fish want more. Also what happens is that when you portion out daily feedings they think they can put 2-3 days worth in at once so they don't have to feed again for 2-3 days. I have told my customers to plan feedings to be done every third day, and I would differ from Zagz' opinion on the lights. I would leave the lights off. It will keep the fish a little less active, it also is one less thing to go wrong, surrogate feeders love to turn lights on and off, even with timers, and they alway bump into something. I would keep it as simple as possible and try to minimize the amount of contact your surrogate has with the fish. Communication is key. Good luck. Bill __________________ Billismad.tripod.com

06-16-2008, 12:02 PM	#4
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,119 Images: 15	I'd measure out food as well. Buy three of the pill despensors and only give food for a feeding every couple days. The Africans will be fine. Since you will be feeding less there won't be as much of an issue with water quality. You will still come home to higher nitrates but they won't be "as" bad with being fed less. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community Planted 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

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06-25-2008, 10:28 AM	#5
Stephen Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 141	The only additional suggestion I can make is clean your filter and do a partial water change three to four days before you leave. Otherwise, the others have given sound advice. Leave all the lights off, feed sparingly once every three or four days. Everything should be fine when you get back.