Automatic Fish Feeders

[Craigdillman]

Hello,

Looking for some insight if anyone has any experience with automatic fish feeders. We are going on vacation for 15ish days in march and while I do have someone coming to check the tank a few times a week I'm sure he doesn't want to come by every day and feed the fish. I currently only have 2 clowns and a 6line in a 29 gallon

Has anyone used one? Any good brands or ones to avoid?

Thanks

[tinkerman]

I picked up a Eheim feeder and love it. I never forget to feed fish. Your fish would be fine getting feed 2x a week also. I feed pellet fodd in mine have some flake but haven't tried it yet.

[rwb500]

no need to feed every day. feeding your fish a few times a week is fine. If he or she is coming even just twice a week, it would be better to just have him/her feed them.

I have tried two that I like a lot:

http://www.amazon.com/Eheim-Feed-Air.../dp/B0002AQY8A
this one is good for long periods of time, and can feed anywhere from 1-8 times per day. but the amount of food is tricky to adjust and the minimum setting might be too much for your 3 fish.

http://www.amazon.com/Fish-Mate-F14-...ds=fish+feeder
I have this one too. its nice because you fill each compartment with exactly how much food you want per feeding. but then, its only got 14 compartments, for 14 feedings. once or twice per day, you choose.


do all of your fish eat pellets/flakes? pellets are better to use in feeders because flakes will just float on the surface unless you set up some special water flow to make them sink (i used to do this).

[shaginwagon13]

The biggest problem I have encountered with automatic feeders is the fish not wanting to touch the food that comes out of it.

When I am home I feed mysis, brine, etc so when my auto feeder dispenses the fish pellets my fish just stare at the food. I guess they know they are getting steak for dinner so why eat a McDonalds lunch. Maybe they aren't as stupid as we think.

[Craigdillman]

Ah ok thanks, I usually feed them shrimp and some flakes. So you think feeding few times a week is good ? They seem to eat everything I feed them every day

[shaginwagon13]

Originally Posted by Craigdillman

Ah ok thanks, I usually feed them shrimp and some flakes. So you think feeding few times a week is good ? They seem to eat everything I feed them every day

I feed them everyday just because I like to see them eat. I feed them in the morning and then once at night.

If you have tangs or larger fish that eat Nori or seaweed 2-3 times a week is normal. For smaller fish like clowns, 1-2 times a day is fine. They can go a couple days without eating.

In the wild they can go up to a week without eating if food is scarce. They are hardier then people give them credit for.

[scar79]

One thing to note with any auto feeder: use a floating feeding ring or make a custom ring fit into the lid so that food doesn't take off down the overflow. For feeders, I like the eheim linked above, but as noted, it can be hard to adjust for small feedings.

[CliftonArbogast]

I use the air feed already posted in above link. They work well with small pellets, i have them mounted about 12 inches above the water so pellets break surface and dont get skimmed. I have three and they have worked without issue for about two years now.

[YamahaF934]

If the fish are of healthy weight/size, they can go without eating for at least a week. Imagine being in the wild, these fish do not eat everyday!

[ace_92101]

Originally Posted by YamahaF934

If the fish are of healthy weight/size, they can go without eating for at least a week. Imagine being in the wild, these fish do not eat everyday!

While I haven't read any studies on the subject, spending a lot of time scuba diving has shown me that that smaller fish tend to eat/graze throughout the day.

[ajsvmax]

I could probably go 2-3 days without eating as well, but I am not sure I would like it, lol.

[Broncos]

I agree with scar. I wedged a piece of thin black foam between the glass and an overflow. Helps a ton.

[Krazy]

I have the ehiem but havent hooked it up yet, waiting for my led fixture to put it in the canopy with the lights....

[bepece]

I have several of the eheim feed-air battery powered feeders on my tanks which work great. I feed mysid, cyclopeeze, etc. when I am home, however, I still have a few pellets fed every day with the eheims so that the fish are used to the food. Also, they are easy to modify for use with a controller.

[Dr Colliebreath]

I have two of the Eheim feeders and they work well. You may have to tape the adjustable opening so the right amount of pellets is dispensed.

I agree that the fish can go 2/3/4 days without food, although given you will be away for two weeks I would use a feeder once per day so the fish have a choice whether to eat something more than twice a week.

[Bashbro]

+1 on the Eheim feeders. Works great.