I can't really be of much help other than to say that he probably won't eat the plant; bettas are mostly insectivores. If there's really nobody at school that could feed him once or twice, taking him with you doesn't seem like a horrible idea. However, you should wait for more opinions ^_____^;
Spring Break/Vacation Betta Questions
I currently have a heated/filtered 10 gallon tank and one betta.
This Thursday I leave for Spring Break from college for 10 days and I'm not sure what to do with my betta.
Last time my school let out for break I left my previous betta for 6 days and came back to a dead fish (keep in mind though he lived in a 1 gallon unheated mini tank). So this time around with a new fish I don't really want to risk it by leaving him here at school.
I still have that 1 gallon mini tank left over from my previous betta and I was thinking that I could bring him home in that for the 10 days of break and do a 50/50 water change halfway through the week. The only problem with this tank is that it would be unheated for the 10 days (but in a warm spot in the house). Also, the journey home for me is a little under 3 hours.
OR would purchasing an edible plant and leaving him at school be a better idea for his survival?
This Thursday I leave for Spring Break from college for 10 days and I'm not sure what to do with my betta.
Last time my school let out for break I left my previous betta for 6 days and came back to a dead fish (keep in mind though he lived in a 1 gallon unheated mini tank). So this time around with a new fish I don't really want to risk it by leaving him here at school.
I still have that 1 gallon mini tank left over from my previous betta and I was thinking that I could bring him home in that for the 10 days of break and do a 50/50 water change halfway through the week. The only problem with this tank is that it would be unheated for the 10 days (but in a warm spot in the house). Also, the journey home for me is a little under 3 hours.
OR would purchasing an edible plant and leaving him at school be a better idea for his survival?
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
Purchasing a plant will help in that plants are good in tanks anyway, but it won't give your little guy something to eat. If your dorm will have electricity it might just be best to leave him there and do large water changes right before you leave and when you get back. He'll be fine without food for a few days. Don't purchase a "weekend feeder" as those just foul the water faster. If your dorm doesn't leave the electricity on, you'll need to take him home.
Agree, you can leave him there as long as the heater and filter are working properly and won't be shut off..
Do a 50% water change before you leave, and when you return do a 15% water change daily for a few days- don't do a large water change after a long period (10 days is a long period in fish world), as the chemistry change, and the tank spiking, can easily cause him to go into osmotic shock and kill him.. it happens quite often when people try to make up for an extended break from cleaning, and do a large water change.
A healthy betta can possibly live up to a month with no food, after two weeks they start to starve for the most part.. 10 days is pushing it, but possible, as long as he is healthy.
When you return home, start him off slowly on food- feed 2-3 pellets over two meals, and slowly work him back up to normal in a span of 3-5 days at least.. so his digestion system gets used to food intake once more.
If you decide to bring him home, make sure he is in very little water, and there won't be any temp fluctuations. The small cups can get hot/cold quite fast, so periodically check it if possible.
Keep it in the dark to help keep him a little more relaxed.
It's going to be very stressful for him to travel that far by car, and just like leaving him for 10 days, it's a gamble.. but the trip is a bit riskier then leaving him be in his home, especially since you have to do it twice.
If anything.. I normally wouldn't suggest this, but if you are that worried for him, then possible to get a ghost shrimp or two (don't over do it as he may go crazy and eat too much), and if he gets hungry enough, he may nibble on them.
But it's a risk he may eat too much..
Personally? A part of me says the ghost shrimp, but that's just the "mommy" in me not wanting my babies to go hungry. But reality I would give them no food for the 10 days, and keep him in the tank with the light off.
How long has the tank been set up, and did you properly cycle it?
Do a 50% water change before you leave, and when you return do a 15% water change daily for a few days- don't do a large water change after a long period (10 days is a long period in fish world), as the chemistry change, and the tank spiking, can easily cause him to go into osmotic shock and kill him.. it happens quite often when people try to make up for an extended break from cleaning, and do a large water change.
A healthy betta can possibly live up to a month with no food, after two weeks they start to starve for the most part.. 10 days is pushing it, but possible, as long as he is healthy.
When you return home, start him off slowly on food- feed 2-3 pellets over two meals, and slowly work him back up to normal in a span of 3-5 days at least.. so his digestion system gets used to food intake once more.
If you decide to bring him home, make sure he is in very little water, and there won't be any temp fluctuations. The small cups can get hot/cold quite fast, so periodically check it if possible.
Keep it in the dark to help keep him a little more relaxed.
It's going to be very stressful for him to travel that far by car, and just like leaving him for 10 days, it's a gamble.. but the trip is a bit riskier then leaving him be in his home, especially since you have to do it twice.
If anything.. I normally wouldn't suggest this, but if you are that worried for him, then possible to get a ghost shrimp or two (don't over do it as he may go crazy and eat too much), and if he gets hungry enough, he may nibble on them.
But it's a risk he may eat too much..
Personally? A part of me says the ghost shrimp, but that's just the "mommy" in me not wanting my babies to go hungry. But reality I would give them no food for the 10 days, and keep him in the tank with the light off.
How long has the tank been set up, and did you properly cycle it?
The tank has been set up since November or so and has been cycled properly. I'm considering the ghost shrimp idea. I'm really worried about my baby being all along for 10 days but if you think that it would be better than taking him on a 3 hour journey twice in 10 days I'm willing to look into it.
Thank you so much for your help!
Thank you so much for your help!
Agree, you can leave him there as long as the heater and filter are working properly and won't be shut off..
Do a 50% water change before you leave, and when you return do a 15% water change daily for a few days- don't do a large water change after a long period (10 days is a long period in fish world), as the chemistry change, and the tank spiking, can easily cause him to go into osmotic shock and kill him.. it happens quite often when people try to make up for an extended break from cleaning, and do a large water change.
A healthy betta can possibly live up to a month with no food, after two weeks they start to starve for the most part.. 10 days is pushing it, but possible, as long as he is healthy.
When you return home, start him off slowly on food- feed 2-3 pellets over two meals, and slowly work him back up to normal in a span of 3-5 days at least.. so his digestion system gets used to food intake once more.
If you decide to bring him home, make sure he is in very little water, and there won't be any temp fluctuations. The small cups can get hot/cold quite fast, so periodically check it if possible.
Keep it in the dark to help keep him a little more relaxed.
It's going to be very stressful for him to travel that far by car, and just like leaving him for 10 days, it's a gamble.. but the trip is a bit riskier then leaving him be in his home, especially since you have to do it twice.
If anything.. I normally wouldn't suggest this, but if you are that worried for him, then possible to get a ghost shrimp or two (don't over do it as he may go crazy and eat too much), and if he gets hungry enough, he may nibble on them.
But it's a risk he may eat too much..
Personally? A part of me says the ghost shrimp, but that's just the "mommy" in me not wanting my babies to go hungry. But reality I would give them no food for the 10 days, and keep him in the tank with the light off.
How long has the tank been set up, and did you properly cycle it?
I left Mr. Fish in a cycled, heated, filtered 5 gallon over spring break (10 days, as well) and he was fine. He had a pretty full stock of live plants (which died back a bit due to the light not being on for 10 days, lol), but I think even without that, it would have been fine. Since yours is 10 gallons, it's even more likely to be fine.
^^ A timer could solve that issue for you, kfish.. 
Bahaha, indeed. I keep meaning to buy one, but I have no money.^^ A timer could solve that issue for you, kfish..
So, I'm just going to make one... eventually... when I'm not too busy making stuff for school and slacking. It won't be an issue anytime soon, anyway, since I'm only gone for 18 hours max now, lol.1 - 8 of 8 Posts
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