What To Do With Fish While On Vacation – This article was co-authored by Wes Corbin. Wes Corbin is an aquarium specialist and owner of Intrinsic Reef Design in Austin, Texas. Wes has been maintaining aquariums since 1991 and has over 24 years of professional experience. He has owned Intrinsic Reef Design since 2008 and specializes in reef tanks, coral growth, freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Wes and his team focus on preventive maintenance and natural methods to keep fisheries ecosystems stable and healthy. It will be published in the 2023 issue of Reef Hobbyist magazine.
When you go on vacation, your fish still needs to be looked after. There are a number of things you can do to make sure they’re happy and healthy while you’re gone, depending on how long you’ll be gone.
What To Do With Fish While On Vacation
Thanks for reading our article! To learn more about fish care, check out our in-depth interview with Wes Corbin.
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This article was co-authored by Wes Corbin. Wes Corbin is an aquarium specialist and owner of Intrinsic Reef Design in Austin, Texas. Wes has been maintaining aquariums since 1991 and has over 24 years of professional experience. He has owned Intrinsic Reef Design since 2008 and specializes in reef tanks, coral growth, freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Wes and his team focus on preventative maintenance and natural methods to keep fisheries ecosystems stable and healthy. It will be published in the 2023 issue of Reef Hobbyist magazine. This article has been viewed 300,833 times.
The best way to keep your fish healthy while you’re on vacation depends on what kind of fish you have and how long you’ll be gone. If you have low-maintenance fish and are only gone for a few days, you can use an automatic feeder to release food on a schedule. However, if you have fish with complex needs or different types of food, it’s best to have someone come and feed them regularly for you. Even if you decide to handle feeding, it’s a good idea to leave your tank clean, change the water, and clean it again shortly after your return. Keep the tank tightly covered so that your fish cannot jump in or out of the tank, especially if no one comes to check on them regularly. For more tips from our vet reviewer, including how to feed your fish live plants and fish while you’re on the go, read on. If you purchase something through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission. Learn more
Are you going on vacation? Make sure your betta fish is always taken care of. It’s your responsibility and you don’t want your little friend to be neglected, do you? First, maintenance instructions will depend on how long you’ll be away and how big your tank is. Other components, including filtration and tank heating, are also important for proper maintenance guidelines while away. To be on the safe side, if you’re going to be on vacation for more than a week, you need a babysitter or bring them with you. Let us analyze all these sections below.
According to the Food and Nutrition Guide, a healthy adult can go up to 2 weeks without betta fish food. However, this is not recommended because after about 5-6 days the betta begins to use up its reserves and may go into starvation mode. Fasting increases stress and can lead to organ failure and disease contraction. If you are on vacation for 2-4 days, it is better to fast your fish during this period. Some owners have left their fish without feeding for 2 weeks or more, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Each race varies in age, health, metabolism and environment, so not all fish will do well when left unattended. The maximum time without feeding should be 4-7 days. Fasting should not become a habit or routine.
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If this is an option, find a close friend or relative to watch your pet while you’re gone. You’ll have to leave careful instructions about feeding amounts, but it’s worth the peace of mind. Use a weekly pillbox for your caregiver, and give pellets on each specific day of the week (4-6 pellets per day) to minimize confusion. If a caregiver isn’t available, arrange regular meals just before you leave and after you return. Never add extra food before you leave, as this can lead to water contamination or overeating. In most cases, the rest of the food is not eaten, and once it goes down, it does more harm than your original good intentions.
Some products are available online and at pet stores, such as Top Fin 7-Day Block Feeders. They are not recommended because they do not provide proper nutrition for your betta and create a horrible mess. While on vacation, you need to keep the water in your tank clean, and these can become muddy and create unwanted waste. Although they were created to solve a real problem among beta owners, they’re a no-no in my book.
An item recommended for vacations of 1 week or more is an automatic feeder. They are only recommended if you get a high grade; You can’t be cheap here because you get what you pay for. Cheap automatic feeders have killed many betta fish since their inception. They are inaccurate and unreliable – they either don’t feed at all or leave the entire amount at once. This leads to excess food or water contamination and death due to disease. If you buy one of these, make sure it’s highly rated, like the Fish Mate F14, and install it a few days before to see how it performs. This product has a built-in timer, allows you to divide meals into portions and cooks up to 14 separate meals. This is a great option if you plan to stay for more than a week.
To keep your betta fish healthy, it is important to maintain a constant tropical water temperature. Caring for your pet while on vacation is no different – whether you’re home from college or just lounging on a beach somewhere! If you can’t find a babysitter, here are some best practices to follow. Betta fish need their water temperature to stay between 76-81 degrees Fahrenheit and should not experience sudden temperature changes. Water that is too cold or too hot can cause stress or even death.
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If you already have a heater, as long as it turns off once it reaches the desired temperature, you’re all set. Some heaters only raise the water temperature by 5-10 degrees regardless of the current water temperature. If this is the case, you may need to turn on the air conditioner to control the ambient temperature when you are outside. Otherwise, your fish may overcook and die! If the opposite is true and you are concerned that the water is too cold, you may want to move the tank to a warmer location in your home or wrap it with towels to retain heat. If you don’t have a high quality heater, 100% recommended for proper beta maintenance. The Hydor 25W Submersible Heater is a great choice for 2-7 gallon tanks and will shut off once it reaches a certain temperature.
An interesting fact is that if you are worried about hunger, the temperature of the water during feeding is also useful for you. Cold water temperatures make betta fish sluggish. This lowers their activity level and metabolism, and they don’t burn food or stored fat as quickly. You can adjust the heater or ambient air temperature to maintain a constant 71-73 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce calorie consumption.
Going on vacation for more than 4 days will require a 50-100% water change on the day you leave and on your return, depending on the size of your tank. For anything 2 gallons or less, do an 80% water change on the day you leave and immediately upon your return. One-gallon tanks require almost daily water changes. As your betta breathes, they naturally release ammonia into the water and break down food and waste to produce toxins. They are harmful to fish in large quantities.
The bigger the tank, the longer you are safe without care. If your tank is very small, like a gallon, move them to a temporary tank if possible (5-10 gallons). You may also consider a temporary home, such as a large 3-4 gallon plastic container. If you go this route, make sure you have a cover with lots of holes (they’re a jumper) to accommodate your fish.
