[BalthySaurus]

My crowntail, Balthazar, is full of personality. I've had him now for almost a whole week, and already he recognizes me. I can tell because he gets excited and swims up to meet me when I approach the tank, but when my friend came over he swam away from him and hid in the corner.

Anyway, today was his first Fast Day, I chose Saturdays because if I'm ever going to be doing something that requires me to be away for a day or two, it'll be a Saturday that I'm gone. I thought that might make it easier to resist feeding him.

Unfortunately for me, I'm not doing things EVERY Saturday so today I had to sit here, doing my homework and catching up on my textbook readings while he just watched me, wriggling back and forth as if asking why I haven't fed him yet. I know fasting him one day a week is good for him, but I still feel so bad because he's asking me for food and I'm not giving it to him!

He's such a beautiful boy and he's already learning things like jumping from the water to grab a bloodworm from my fingers and I play with him nearly everyday, getting him to chase my finger around. I love him a lot...

Just thought I'd ask how the rest of you deal with fasting days, haha. To me it feels like torture, is that normal or am I crazy?

 

[Blue Fish]

I'll admit it...I can't do it. I cave...I make up for it by only feeding once per day a couple of times a week. Or if they are all looking really fat, I leave the lights off and don't go in that room for the day. So, yes, they have a very long "night" time...but I figure it's easier on them if they think it's night and not time to eat again.

 

[BalthySaurus]

I'll admit it...I can't do it. I cave...I make up for it by only feeding once per day a couple of times a week. Or if they are all looking really fat, I leave the lights off and don't go in that room for the day. So, yes, they have a very long "night" time...but I figure it's easier on them if they think it's night and not time to eat again.

Haha glad to know I'm not the only one who has this problem. Unfortunately since he lives in my bedroom I can't just leave and not come back for a day, haha.

You should see the look he's giving me right now, I feel so terrible!

 

[Weaver]

I agree, I caved at the end of my first fasting day and gave him just a half of a pellet.

It does get easier though. Although the plaintive 'But-I-Love-You' eyes are a skill that end up being developed. I'm learning to ignore the hungry-eyes on fasting days. XD

 

[BalthySaurus]

I agree, I caved at the end of my first fasting day and gave him just a half of a pellet.

It does get easier though. Although the plaintive 'But-I-Love-You' eyes are a skill that end up being developed. I'm learning to ignore the hungry-eyes on fasting days. XD

Haha, I almost caved yesterday, but I made it through! I did give him an extra pellet this morning though because I felt so bad... Not sure if that was a good thing to do, haha. I hope this gets easier, because I'm like 99% sure he's mad at me. He won't play with me today.

 

[Chachi]

Probably a stupid question....but why do you do a fasting day? I've never heard of this....

 

[BalthySaurus]

Probably a stupid question....but why do you do a fasting day? I've never heard of this....

It's to give them a chance to clear out their systems to avoid constipation and bloating and stuff like that. I don't think everyone does it, but especially for smaller tanks I think it's a good thing to do.

 

[Chachi]

Thanks for the info!! I have smaller tanks so I am going to research it and see if I should be doing it!