Loaches Online Forum

hi there everyone, haven't posted in a while but ya'll were a great help when starting my loach tank few years ago.

the set-ups: 75g clown loach tank with 5 clowns, size from 4"-6", and a 55g striata/yo-yo/kubotai tank, 3 striata, 2 yo-yo, 5 kubotai and a school of bosemani rainbow fish up top.

my question is about leaving town for the weekend. would they be okay for 3 days without eating? I can get a friend to come by, and will leave specific instructions, but rather not open up the house at all if ya'll think it would be okay.

I value the opinions here, and have had my clowns over 3 years and don't want anything to happen to them, so I will probably go with your advice.

thanks alot.

(thats the clown tank below, and the Oscar in the pic has been moved.)

I would not feed them for three days. No chance of an accident and they will be fine.

I agree not feeding them is fine, but I am a beginner. When I go on vacation I leave packets of food for each of my tanks with dates and the tank on it for my fish feeders, but I dont think that's necessary for three days.

Where do you live?

I ask because if there is a chance you could lose electricity, that would seem more of a concern. I would have someone look in on the house to make sure the water is fine and the electricty is on (filters and heaters working properly).

My loach tank has 30+ loaches, and Ive left them 5+ days without feeding. I feel much safer not feeding them, then having someone who knows nothing about my fish feeding them.

Also, its good for fish to go on fasts every once in a while.

starsplitter7 wrote: I ask because if there is a chance you could lose electricity, that would seem more of a concern. I would have someone look in on the house to make sure the water is fine and the electricty is on (filters and heaters working properly).

Great point, I have a backup generator. Loosing the electricity worries me. A plan for no power is great insurance and it the prudent thing to do.

thanks for the replies, I was kinda thinking they would be ok but that makes me feel better about no feeding.

im in the south so temperature not a big problem but no I am not set up properly for a power out. but the bill is paid up, will keep fingers crossed on a storm or some kind of outtage.

thanks again, not sure if my fasting clowns feel the same, but I appreciate it.

3 days is a piece of cake!
I have adult/teenage kids at home, but even with built-in fish feeders I do not bother setting up my system for just a few days.
4 days and I would ask the kids to deal with it (pre-measured cups for each tank, half rations for all) If I have fry I might ask that the one or two tanks involved gets fed daily.

hi there loachi-wan kenobis.

just to update my scenario, and for any future reference, my clowns and other loaches did fine on the weekend fast.

it actually turned into 4 days as we ran over a bit. i was a bit worried but all fish present and accounted for. I did a decent sized vacuum/water change and fed a bit more than a normal feeding before I left, and eased them back in with 2 smallish feedings after 4 days off.

side note I have a 2 year old green spotted puffer in a brackish set-up and he was cool too. wasn't as worried about him because he a tuff lil bugger, my clowns more the spoiled socialites.

Thanks for your advice, if nothing else kept my mind at ease about my fish while I was gone, and was spot on.