Path: utzoo!hoptoad!ihnp4!laidbak!spl1!ddsw1!gryphon!richard
From: richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: Fish at Christmas
Message-ID: <2554@gryphon.CTS.COM>
Date: 12 Dec 87 03:28:54 GMT
References: <315@galaxy>
Reply-To: richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton)
Distribution: alt
Organization: Trailing Edge Technology, Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 43
Keywords: Extended Vacation, Starvation; Dont worry about it
Summary: Don't giftwrap mine, please

In article <315@galaxy> whitling@andromeda (Donna Whitlinger) writes:
>Does anyone have any information about how long a small marine tank can
>go within any attention?  I have a five gallon aquarium in my office
>containing a small pericula (sp) clown and an anemone.  The office will
>be closed from December 25th until January 5th.  If I set up a feeder with
>flaked marine food, will the clown die of malnutrition during this period?
>Will the anemone starve while I'm not there?  
>
>I thought about taking the tank (or its occupants) home for the break, but 
>it seems that the shock of transport might be worse.  Any thoughts or 
>experience?

Dont sweat it. 3 weeks to a month, and it *might* be cause for concern,
but it is truly amazing how long they can go without food. When you get
back your fish will be active, and the tank very clean.

I have met with disaster every %#(%^@ time I let somebody else (even
alleged experienced aquarists) "take care" of my tanks. I now just ignore
them, ans have even learned not to worry. Never lost a fish that way.

BTW, I once had a tank, about 2-3 years ago, be completely ignored
for 6 months. I was missing 2 out of 20 killiefish, but that was it.

No, I don't think 10 days is cause for concern.

Doesn't help, does it ? You still worry. Could you not go in after 5
days and feed them A LITTLE (ie, resist the strong urge you will have
to 'make up' for not feeding them, and potentially overfeed them)

Also, lowering the temp. a couple of degrees will slow their
metabolism a bit, which may help.

Don't worry. Really.

>Donna Whitlinger


-- 
Richard J. Sexton
INTERNET:     richard@gryphon.CTS.COM
UUCP:         {hplabs!hp-sdd, sdcsvax, ihnp4, nosc}!crash!gryphon!richard

"It's too dark to put the keys in my ignition..."