Starvation?

TalenT · Post by **TalenT** » 22 Sep 2003, 21:08

Hi.

I’m wondering if my catfish (and other fish too for that matter) will survive without food for 16-17days? I’m going away for that long and I don’t know anyone who can come by and feed them during that time. My catfishes are (in case that matters) Liosomadoras morrowi, Acanthodoras cataphractus, Pimelodella pictus, Agamyxis pectinifrons, Peckoltia sp.L205, Ancistrus sp., Microglanis sp., Trachelyichthys exilis. And none-catfish: Microgeophagus ramirezi & Nematobrycon palmeri. I have the lights on a timer so that wont be a problem, but it is as I said the food that is the question.

Post by **Dinyar** » 22 Sep 2003, 21:31

That might be pushing it, but if you feed them well before you go (and do a big water change thereafter), chances are at least the larger fish will be OK.

If you have only one fish tank (as it seems), you could look into an automatic feeder.

Or maybe you can find someone on this forum who wants to go to Sweden and will fish-sit in exchange for accommodation.

Dinyar

MackIntheBox · Post by **MackIntheBox** » 22 Sep 2003, 21:33

how about some automatic fish feeders? not sure about Sweden but they can be purchased at Petsmart and LFS here in the US. Could give one of those a try if you can get one.

RogerMcAllen · Post by **RogerMcAllen** » 22 Sep 2003, 22:52

Make sure you don't get one of those time realease tabs that are for feeding over vacation. Those really mess up your parameters.

pturley · Post by **pturley** » 23 Sep 2003, 04:50

Healthy fish can survive a month (or more) without feeding.

I would do a healthy water change the day before you are to leave. Check on the fish the day of your trip just to make sure you didn't upset the biological filter with the water change, then enjoy your vacation/trip and don't even think twice. That's it.

The last thing I would do is feed them EXTRA right before departing. If you do, you are virtually assuring that there will be EXTRA waste products in the tank for the entire duration of your trip. Not exactly the ideal situation.

Later,
Paul E. Turley

TalenT · Post by **TalenT** » 23 Sep 2003, 19:39

Thanks for the advice!!!

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 23 Sep 2003, 22:07

HI!

I personnally seen one of my Hypancistrus sp L28, trapping a female for 11 days, then took care of the eggs for 8 days and then took care of the young for 18 more days all this without leaving the cave to search for food... so that is basically a month....

It also depend of the size of the fish, the bigger they are the easier for them it is to deal without food....
And of course this is a awful idea to starve some youngs...it slow growth and it is usually the lost can't being catch back...

Cheers
Yann