Betta fish and vacation care

[oceanix4]

I'm going on vacation for a week and worried about leaving my betta alone. He's in a 5 gallon tank with a sponge filter, heater set to 78F, and I usually feed him twice a day. Any tips to keep him healthy while I'm gone?

[GentleFish]

I've used automatic feeders with good results. Just make sure to test it before you leave to avoid overfeeding. Also, do a 30% water change the day before you go to keep params stable.

[Lynxo]

Yo, same situation last month. I got a feeder but it dumped way too much food. Ended up asking my neighbor to drop by every 3 days. They just tossed in a pinch of pellets, no probs.

[kalinda]

Yo, same situation last month. I got a feeder but it dumped way too much food. Ended up asking my neighbor to drop by every 3 days. They just tossed in a pinch of pellets, no probs.

That's what I do too. Feeders can be sketchy, and a quick check-in helps spot any issues like filter clogs or heater fails.

[breezy]

If you're gonna use a feeder, set it to half the usual portion. Bettas can go a few days without food, but overfeeding's a bigger risk. Maybe toss in some live plants for extra biofilm snacks.

[dolphyno]

My dude survived 10 days with just a feeder and some floating plants. Tank was a bit messy when I got back, but he was chill. Just do a big water change when you return.

[landfall]

I'd skip the feeder and just fast him. A healthy betta can handle a week without food. Less risk of ammonia spikes, and you won't come back to a cloudy tank.

[oceanix4]

Thanks for all the advice! I think I'll ask my neighbor to check in mid-week and skip the feeder. Appreciate the help.

[lumin5]

Smart move. I left mine for 5 days once with just plants, and he was fine. Neighbor backup is clutch though, just in case.

[jakarta]

I'd skip the feeder and just fast him. A healthy betta can handle a week without food. Less risk of ammonia spikes, and you won't come back to a cloudy tank.

Agreed. Mine's done fine with fasting, and it's less stress for everyone.