Leaving for a week...fish sitter advice?

[tokala]

Well, when I first got into this hobby, it was in the middle of a chilly snowy winter while being bogged down with school work. Perfect time to learn how to care for fish! But alas.... summer is almost here, and I have realized how little I am home when the climbing/rafting/hiking/camping/etc is good!

I will be taking weekend/4 day trips often, which should be fine with my 10 gal and 5 gal. I am going to give Chester (my big orange dal) to a friend who has fallen for him for the summer (haha maybe forever, we will see if I ever get him back!) He is in a 2.5 gal so I am nervous about his water changes if I keep him in my care all summer.

Next week I leave for a week long trip and am nervous. Diablo is in a 5 gal, Sam the 10 gal. I can have someone swing buy to feed them. Does anyone have any other advice I should give a fish sitter?

[Sakura8]

Hmm. Are you planning on having a fish sitter change the water? If not, probably the best thing you can do is to feed them a few big meals right before you leave and then let them fast a week. If someone feeds them every day but doesn't change the water, the ammonia will build up, especially in a 5g. Fish can go for two weeks without eating so a big fast won't hurt your bettas. They might be grumpy but they won't starve.

[newarkhiphop]

lol same thing with me, am leaving on vacation in a couple of weeks, going to be gone for 2 weeks, am doing a full water change the day i leave, leaving simple instructions on feeding and water changes.

Water change is probaly the biggest issue, feeding the fish is simple. I would say if you can show the person your going to leave how you change there water at least once before you leave

[dramaqueen]

I was gone for 10 days and had someone feed my fish 3 times while I was gone but no water changes.

[Neil D]

For a 7 day trip, ask if someone can come and feed him once during the week. Two 3 day fasts, not bad, just grumpy