Holiday Food

Basically I am going away for a week, and wondered how the bristlenoses should be fed. I have a male and female juvie, both about 2 - 3 inches, and only them in the tank (I have turtles, but they are being seperated for the week in case of trying to eat the fish).

So do I feed them a load of wafers to last them over, or one of those week long block things which you can buy for "normal" fish?

Thanks in advance

For a week, feed them as you would before you go then they can just fast while you are away. Most plecos are fine if in good condition to be left for a couple of weeks without being fed. Its better for them to be a bit hungry than to have the water turn bad due to excess food.

Holidays of a week are generally ok just to leave your fish. Most fish can do fine for a week without food. Def do not throw in a heap of algae wafers before you go as this will pollute the water and you will most likely come home to a tank of dead fish.

If you really want to leave them something. Throw in a length of cucumber. Cucumber is nice in that it doesnt pollute the water like other veges do. I often leave a good bit of hard cucumber in the tank for 3 days and the bristlenose will reduce it to skin in that time. If you dont already feed them cucumber i would start now and figure out how long it takes them to eat a given length. then when you leave add in 3 days worth. that way it will all get eaten and not foul the water.

Okay thanks guys

Doug wrote:

Holidays of a week are generally ok just to leave your fish. Most fish can do fine for a week without food. Def do not throw in a heap of algae wafers before you go as this will pollute the water and you will most likely come home to a tank of dead fish.

If you really want to leave them something. Throw in a length of cucumber. Cucumber is nice in that it doesnt pollute the water like other veges do. I often leave a good bit of hard cucumber in the tank for 3 days and the bristlenose will reduce it to skin in that time. If you dont already feed them cucumber i would start now and figure out how long it takes them to eat a given length. then when you leave add in 3 days worth. that way it will all get eaten and not foul the water.

Which type of cucumber stays better in water, the normal or the jap ones? Thx. Might just use cucumber instead when I am away cos I didn't managed to grow algae after putting tank out under the sun for a few days, don't think can grow in time b4 I leave for holiday.

good question...I don't know.

I always go for the firmest cucs as the seem to last longer in the water. Basically till they are all eaten. havent really experimented on other types as i have never had the need.

Thx Doug. I hv been using the normal cucumber, and realised it only managed to stay good in water for 1 1/2 day, so I went to get some of the Jap ones yesterday. Will see how it goes.

Hi, just an update - jap cucumber stays well in water w/o clouding and going mushy. Today is day 4, center part are eaten and skin still intact, unlike the normal cucumber, where after just 28 hrs, leftover flesh separates from skin and flesh also turned mushy.

hrmmm, I find that the condition of the cucumber makes a bit of difference. I always go for the firmest ones i can find. seem to last in the water better.