? about leaving fish for 3 days

[kuklachica]

My husband and I will be leaving tomorrow to be with his grandmother who is about to pass away. We will probably be back on Saturday. Because of cycling and tail biting, I have several small tanks. What do you recommend I do with these:

- 20 gallon, 4 sections, only 3 fish in it now, so one section is empty.

- 1.5 Gallon Hospital kritter keeper: Wally is in his own 1.5 because he seemed sensitive to the NH3 that was building up in the 20 gallon during the cycling process.

- 3 gallon kritter keeper, divided two ways: these two fish started biting their tails, so took them out and am cycling their tank while they are in the hospital tank.

- 2.5 gallon, in process of cycling, one fish. This fish is happy and has never (knock on wood) had any problems.

First option: Do WCs tonight and leave them where they are now and do a WC on Saturday when we return.

Second option: Put Wally back in his original tank (the 20 gallon), put one of the guys from the 3 gallon kritter keeper in Wally's hospital tank. That would leave one fish per small container and 4 back in the larger tank.

What do you think?? Any ideas would be really appreciated since this is my first time leaving my fish.

[doggyhog]

I think they'll be fine if you just leave them.

Three days isn't that long. Just change the water right before you leave and don't feed them right before you go, that will only make more waste in the water. If they aren't feed, the water is sooo much cleaner. They can easily go without food for that long. I've left mine for 4 days and they were fine.

Sorry about his Grandma.. :(

[kuklachica]

Originally Posted by doggyhog

Sorry about his Grandma.. :(

Thank you... his family is very close.. his grandmother escaped Poland during WWII and is quite an incredible person.. it is very sad to see her like this :(

[dramaqueen]

I'm so sorry about your husband's grandmother. I know the feeling. I have a cousin who is about to pass away any time now, too.

[Jupiter]

Very sorry about your husband's grandmother. Your fish should be fine, though.

[RedBetta]

Sorry to hear that.

Would vacation feeders maybe be a good idea? Im not sure.
If so I would do water changes before you leave and maybe break up some vacation feeders and put a small piece in each tank then as soon as you get home remove them and do another water change?
I'd like another opinion on that though.

[dramaqueen]

I've heard that the vacation feeders are no good. All they do is mess up your water.

[Romad]

Leave the fish be. They'll be fine for that timeframe.

Very sorry about Grandma. She sounds like an amazing woman.