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 Discus Feeding for when you're away..

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saint_felony
The Turtle Whisperer
saint_felony


Posts : 1930


Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyMon Nov 17, 2008 2:06 am

I haven't had a chance to research this yet myself, so I'm hoping there's an easy solution that you all might know.

We got invited to a thing in Vegas for about 5 days. I don't have anyone I can have come over that frequently to feed these guys.

Is there a decent automatic feeder out there? Is there a wiggly jello vacation feeder for discus? I've had good luck with those for the other cichlids and stuff, but like, not sure what to do with these.
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Mike D
DIY Guy
Mike D


Male Posts : 1842

Age : 41
Location : Maine
Humor : You can't offend me

Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyMon Nov 17, 2008 9:37 am

Good question! I have heard good things about the Eheim Automatic Feeder. As for the wiggly jello vacation feeder I dont know. I would like to take a vacation but the thing I'm worried about are water changes. Maybe pops knows of a better feeder.
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Mostlycichlids
Cichlid Specialist
Mostlycichlids


Male Posts : 4566

Age : 44
Location : New Mexico USA
Favorite Fish : Jaguar Cichlid

Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyMon Nov 17, 2008 1:49 pm

I really don't keep Discus and have never used auto feeders. Sorry I can't help out on this one...hopefully someone will chime in that has more input on this.
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saint_felony
The Turtle Whisperer
saint_felony


Posts : 1930


Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyMon Nov 17, 2008 3:36 pm

Research on the internet says that the Eheim 3581 feeder is "teh awesome"

If this is a definite go, I will pick one up and test it out before I go, and let you all know how good it is.

As for water changes, a day before I leave and right after I get back, shouldn't be that big a deal. Unless you ask Pops. Wink

The live plants seem to do a pretty good job of keeping the nitrates down.

Heck, with the accidental Tub of Taro and Mint filtration system I stumbled on with the Koi, I *never* do water changes anymore, with them I just add water when it's low. Wink
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Markm0723
Jack Dempsey Breeder
Markm0723


Male Posts : 382

Age : 64
Location : Mobile, AL
Favorite Fish : Jack Dempsey

Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyMon Nov 17, 2008 7:34 pm

I've had an Eheim Automatic Feeder (not sure of the model #) for about 10 years. It will feed up to four times a day if I remember correctly. It also has a good size hopper. It was rather expensive, $60+, but it worked well.

I didn't realize that Discus were that delicate. Of course the last Discus I kept, thought it was a Peacock Bass. It became great pals with a 2-3 lb. P'Bass I had in a 150 at the lfs I used to manage, and would even go after the live shiners I fed the P'Bass. Laughing In fact they were such pals, that when I sold the Bass, the customer came back after about a week and bought the Green Heckel, because the Bass was sulking. Last I heard from the customer was about three years later, and the "Odd Couple" were still doing fine.

Mark


Last edited by Markm0723 on Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Mike D
DIY Guy
Mike D


Male Posts : 1842

Age : 41
Location : Maine
Humor : You can't offend me

Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyMon Nov 17, 2008 10:02 pm

Woah thats crazy!
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Markm0723
Jack Dempsey Breeder
Markm0723


Male Posts : 382

Age : 64
Location : Mobile, AL
Favorite Fish : Jack Dempsey

Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyMon Nov 17, 2008 10:23 pm

Yes... If I would've had a big enough tank at the house back then (Mid 1980s) they would have gone home with me. The Green Heckel was W/C and grew from about 4" to about 7" before it was sold. It was hilarious watching it hang on to the tail of a 2" to 3" Shiner. Obviously, it never read the books on how a Discus is supposed to act. I miss those fish.

Mark
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Mostlycichlids
Cichlid Specialist
Mostlycichlids


Male Posts : 4566

Age : 44
Location : New Mexico USA
Favorite Fish : Jaguar Cichlid

Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyMon Nov 17, 2008 10:26 pm

Nice story indeed...and a crazy mix for sure!
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PopPopsfish
Member
PopPopsfish


Posts : 15


Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyTue Nov 18, 2008 12:17 am

Feeding while you are away can be tricky!!

I would recommend that you feed them before you leave and do a 50-60% WC then just feed as soon as you return.

You can use auto feeders but you must first test for a few days and feed aminimum while you are away so the water does not foul.
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PopPopsfish
Member
PopPopsfish


Posts : 15


Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyTue Nov 18, 2008 12:22 am

saint_felony wrote:
Research on the internet says that the Eheim 3581 feeder is "teh awesome"

If this is a definite go, I will pick one up and test it out before I go, and let you all know how good it is.

As for water changes, a day before I leave and right after I get back, shouldn't be that big a deal. Unless you ask Pops. Wink

The live plants seem to do a pretty good job of keeping the nitrates down.

Heck, with the accidental Tub of Taro and Mint filtration system I stumbled on with the Koi, I *never* do water changes anymore, with them I just add water when it's low. Wink

The reason we do as many water changes as we do .

Discus release an high amount of hormones into the water and if not removed you will end up with stunted fish. Our show tank gets a 25-30% WC every week . 125 gallons with 2 405's and a ton of plants. We vac out the gravel to remove all the waste that is generated by 15 5+" Discus .

It is all in the filtration you use and the size of your Discus.
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saint_felony
The Turtle Whisperer
saint_felony


Posts : 1930


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PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyTue Nov 18, 2008 4:49 am

Wow Mark. That is totally bizarrely awesome.

The discus I have are still wee. (2.5 to 3") So they're still supposedly a bit delicate even if they don't act like it.

Pops: Nothing to eat for 5 days? Really? Don't you feed yours this size 2 or 3 times a day? I missed one day once and they were not thrilled about it. I'm not sure I'd want to chance them dying with 5 days of no food. Also I'd be using a flake food while I'm gone. Your discus food mix would totally clog any feeder. Wink

As far as the water changes then, sounds like I should be fine. If your doing a 25 once a week.

Also I wasn't saying to *not* ever do water changes. The koi pond is open (as is the plant part) and between evaporation being so fast, and however I set it up, all their levels have been at zero. I still test it because I still can't believe it, but the plants thrive (so long as the koi don't get em) and the koi are doing just as well.

Also, not very fair to compare essentially carp and discus. I've rescued koi from water that at a quarter as bad would have killed off any discus. Wink
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PopPopsfish
Member
PopPopsfish


Posts : 15


Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyTue Nov 18, 2008 8:32 am

Discus can live without food for 5 days , When we go on vacation I fatten them up before we leave. Just before we go out the door I feed a fair amount of flake(high protein veggie mix) they are fine when we return . I have left for 6 days before and have not lost one Discus or angel. Our Angels live longer when their food is cut back to a minimum.
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saint_felony
The Turtle Whisperer
saint_felony


Posts : 1930


Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyWed Nov 19, 2008 1:56 am

Well, I'm gonna have to trust you on this one. The angels I can totally see that, I skip a day now and again for them because it doesn't seem like the actually want to eat every day. Those discus are needy little buggers tho.

You're totally dealing with my crying kid, if one of 'em croaks while we're gone tho. Wink
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PopPopsfish
Member
PopPopsfish


Posts : 15


Discus Feeding for when you're away.. Empty
PostSubject: Re: Discus Feeding for when you're away..   Discus Feeding for when you're away.. EmptyWed Nov 19, 2008 11:41 am

I can not guarantee that this will work for you , as I do not know your current feeding schedule and tank maintenance, all these things factor in to your ability to skip feedings for several days . You must condition your fish at least a week prior to you leaving for vacation ; with all the fish you have I would recommend that you have someone look in on them at least once during the five days you are away.

You must also use good judgment ,taking into account your fishes needs .
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