Can my Goldfish last 7 days without food?

Question

I'm going on a vaction and there's really no one I can count on to feed them or clean their tank. If I feed them well up until the day I leave and do a big water change, will they be okay without food for 7 days? I'd rather no one feed them during that time away, because their ammonia will get too high. I've had the aquarium for about a month now, I wonder if it's cycled yet..

Presently I'm changing their water every 4/5 days, otherwise my Goldfish gets veins in his tail, signs of bad water. Such a messy Goldfish he is! :P Perhaps I'm feeding him too much?

But like I said, what I plan to do is feed them alot up until Saturday night or Sunday morning, then that morning do a water change and let them fast until I get back the following sunday. Is that okay? Approximately 7 days.

If I have to, I can ask one friend, but she knows nothing about aquariums. I'm afraid she'll do something wrong.

I love my little Charlie. :)

Ah, food blocks! Forgot about those! :)

I'd appreciate you guys leaving the sarcasim to yourself. I'm not trying to be selfish here. I want to be sure my fish is alright. Someone who's never taken care of a fish might forget to treat the water, anything. I dont want that to happen.

But I guess it was sort of a stupid question. I'll work something out. :)

Answer 1

It's not a stupid question at all. You have a very valid concern. Let's find an answer that works for you. First, if you need to change water every 4/5 days I think you are over feeding just a bit. Cut back just a little and tht will be much better. Yes, your tank certainly should be cycled or very near the end of the cycling process by now.

As for your trip, yes a goldfish can go for 7 days without food with no real problem, but if you are uncomfortable about it try this: Why not ask your friend to feed your fish for 2 days while you are gone? Pick 2 that will work for your friend it won't really matter too much. Before you go, make a little package of food in a small zip top bag or in a small piece of plastic wrap for each day your friend will feed the fish. Make them just a little smaller than you would feed if you were there. This will prevent over feeding and the potential for ammonia problems. Then just tell your friend to open one package each day and feed that amount to the fish. This way you know your fish gets about the right amount of food each feeding and you won;t have to worry about ammonia problems.

Hope that helps.

MM

Answer 2

A lot of good answers a lot of wacky answers.

Since you are already having water problems with your fish, I would suggest NOT using the food blocks. These will create a worse situation for your fish.

You can clip lettuce on a veggie clip or even a hair clip to the side of his tank. Your fish will eat lettuce.

You can also go to walmart and buy a $10 automatic feeder, these work well.

If you have a smaller movable tank 5 gal or less you can put him in the refrigerator, yes I said refrig. Gold fish are cold water fish and do well in the cooler temps There should be no heater on your tank. Cooling his water down and lowering the water temps will slow his metabolism. he will not need to eat while you are gone. It will also inhibit algae and bacterial growth in the water.

The frig will bring his tank water gradually down and start his hybernation. (DO not stick him in the freezer that would kill him) when you return, just remove the tank from the frig and allow to come to room temperature.

If your gold fish is getting red in his veins, there is something definately not right with the water. Don't worry about the filter since he won't need it. Especially if you have done a water change just before you leave. Also, don't feed him the day you put him in the frig.

Answer 3

Change the water right before you leave. Go to the pet store. They have what they call a weekly feeder. You drop them into your tank and they slowly release food during the week. Please do not over feed them before you leave, this will only cause the ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, etc to go high. As soon as you get home, change the water, vac the gravel, and take any leftover food out.

You dont say how large your tank is, or how many fish you have. I hope your tank is large enough to accomodate your fish. If you have 2 goldfish your tank should be at least 15 gals. But, I bet you already know that.

In short, if your tank is large enough for the fish, and you get the weekly feeders, then your fish will be fine.

Good Luck

As stated above, the blocks can mess with water quality, but not feeding your fish for a week is even worse. Just make sure you get any leftover food block out of the water ASAP.

Answer 4

Dont use food blocks, the mess with water quality, and dont use auto feeders, they can malfuntion. If you want someone to come in feed your fish like once during the week, just put the amount of food into like a pill sorter or something, then they cant overfeed

also you should have them do a small water change for you...not really something they can mess up. Have water out already either in a bucket or trash can(new) all declorinated and just show them what to do before you leave

Answer 5

Fish can go without food for a lot longer than is believed. Your goldfish won't starve in 7 days, especially if well fed in the days prior to your departure. In a way it's actually best not to feed them during that time period to keep your water quality up.

While they're a different type of fish, I've have female mouthbrooding cichlids which ROUTINELY go without food for 21-35 days at a time. They're a little skinny for about 3 days and are back to normal.

If your fish is currently healthy, and your water quality is prestine, you should have no problems.

Answer 6

Biologically they certainly can - they can go much longer then that actually, and the colder the water is, the longer they can go - even months in the right conditions.

There is no worry about starvation, but there is regarding water quality. Even without food if you know someone who can do a water change somewhere in between that would be great.

I don't recommend overfeeding them before though. It won't really make a difference since they're well fed anyway, and the end result is really just more waste in the tank from too much food. These guys are cold blooded and you'd be amazed not only how long they can go without food, but how little they need to maintain.

FYI those feeding blocks are useless - full of filler that pollutes and almost no nutrition. Anyone who uses them might as well not.

Answer 7

Yes, you definitely can fast your fish for seven days and more. BUT.....Do not begin a regime of excess feeding now, this can cause serious problems in your tank. You could look into a feeder rock, or maybe an auto-feeder. Fasting is NOT out of the question though...
How do you think your Local Pet Store, or Wal-Mart get their fish? Usually delivered, and sometimes (according to my LPS) for up to a month, and during this time, they are not fed.

It is also a good idea to fast your GF for 3-7 days prior to any major moves in your life that are more than an hour away. I have been told this by the owner of over 4000 gals of tanks in home, and a pet store under his experience. He does not have a local breeder, and many of his fish come from overseas.
Below is a good link to information on fasting fish for moving.....
and a link to the Wardley Vacation Feeder, and an Auto-feeder...

Answer 8

Just get a small vacation feeder , a block of food that stays in the tank. Do a good water change and clean when you get back. Take a small jar of water to your pet store and ask them to test it to see if it is cycled. Then, plan to get a test kit and start monitoring your water yourself. Also, change his water 10% - 20 % at a time every three or four days since his is kinds dirty. Only feed him once a day too

Answer 9

No, but you can buy inexpensive vacation food that slowly dissolves. Also may throw in a couple plants that they may chew up fast, but which could last a few days. I think that's better than letting them starve, but if you do hate that idea you can try out some automatic feeders I have seen in the stores.

Answer 10

Goldfish can/could last for 7 days. Many species of fish can last for months. It's definatly not good for them though. Block foods and automatic feeders will do.

Your filter should be able to handle the tank for 7 days. If it's not then it may not be cycled yet or your bioload is to large.