Share This Page

Tweet

Post provided by Jack Dempsey, TropicalFishCareGuides.com | October 12, 2018

Fish are finicky.

And if you think about it they have a reason!

Just think about it, they live their life inside a tiny glass box.

If one thing is out of sync they have nowhere to go.

This is why whenever I get ready for a vacation I start to stress a little (okay a lot) about my fish.

• Will they be okay?
• Who’s going to feed them?
• What if the power goes out and the filter stops?
• What if the tank starts leaking?
• Who’s going to talk to them (okay that’s weird, right?)?

All these things are a possibility and if you’re not around to take care of them, who will?

Fortunately, there are professional pet-sitting services that will take care of your fish while you’re away. A professional pet sitter will provide you with a contract detailing the specific services they will provide, and they will need detailed information from you about your fish, tank and typical care routine.

In this article, we’ll help you get all the necessary info, checklists, and steps needed in order to ensure your fish are well kept and waiting with open fins when you arrive home.

What should you do to get your fish tank ready before you leave?

Before you leave there are a few things to do to ensure everything goes as smooth as possible while you're away.

Tip for pet sitters: At your pre-vacation initial consultation with the pet owner, see if you can help perform the tasks below. It’s a great idea to walk through some of the tasks and become familiar with the tank, equipment and fish.

Here are a few things to do before you leave:

1. Clean the tank.

Clean your tank and do a water change at least 48 hours before you leave.

Doing this 48 hours before you leave allows you time to monitor your water parameters to ensure nothing “fishy” is going on before you leave.

It also ensures your tank is completely full to compensate for any evaporation that may occur while you’re gone.

2. Check equipment.

It’s very important to review all your equipment as well as walk through the tasks with your pet sitter to show them how everything works.

• Filters: Make sure to inspect the filter to ensure water is flowing freely with no clogging and your filter media is sufficient.

• Heaters: Inspect the heater to ensure it’s working and set to the correct temperature.

• Lighting: If you don’t have any live plants in your tank the lights won’t be that critical. However, if your lights go out for an extended period of time it could wreak havoc on a planted tank. Be sure to set a timer to make things easy if you need your lighting on a schedule. Set the tank to be on for 6-8 hours a day. This will keep algae down and keep your tank clean.

• Air Pumps: If you have any equipment in your tank that runs off an air pump ensure your lines are connected, secured and clear of any debris to ensure maximum airflow.

These are the basics but if you have anything unique to your tank be sure to inspect it before you leave and show your sitter what’s involved.

Tip for pet sitters: Make sure there is a backflow preventer on the air tube. This will prevent any water from flowing back into the pump and flooding the floor in the event of a power failure.

3. Add any water additives.

If you require any additives such as water conditioners, plant fertilizers, or bacteria supplements you should add them now and explain any instructions to your pet sitter.

4. Check your fish.

Lastly, have a look at your fish.

Look for any odd behavior or signs of disease and sickness, and check for dead fish or fish gasping at the surface.

This is also a good time to familiarize your sitter with the species and needs of each fish.

For example:

Maybe you have bottom-feeding fish that require sinking pellets to be added every other day.

Now that you’ve gone through “your” checklist, let’s discuss food.

Preparing for the fish to be fed while you are away

There are many ways to feed fish while you're gone, some are good and some are bad.

The method I prefer is to portion out the daily feedings and have each portion set out in a pill box or Ziploc bags. Then all you need to do is show your sitter exactly how to put the food in the water.

The second best option would be using an automatic fish feeder. These are pretty reliable but may take a few days to set up to ensure the portions are right. All the sitter needs to do is ensure the power is on and the feeder is working when they stop by.

A third option would be to use a slow release food tablet. However, I’ve used these before and actually lost fish. They usually don’t release sufficient amounts of food and do a really great job of clouding and contaminating your water, so I wouldn't recommend them.

If you want to ensure your fish are well kept and in the best condition upon your return, arrange someone to come over and regularly feed them.

Hopefully, by now you’ve had a chance to meet with your sitter and they now understand all the specifics of your fish tank and are ready to take care of your fish.

What to leave for the pet sitter

Before you leave, make sure your pet sitter has a list of things they should do during each visit.

Every tank is unique and you should prepare a list that is specific to your tank, fish and plants. The list below is a great starting point and you can just add to it.

Pet Sitter Checklist

• Check the fish
• Feed the fish
• Look for leaks
• Check water levels
• Check the power
• Check the temperature
• Check the filter
• Check the heater
• Check lighting
• Add supplements (if applicable)

All you need to do now is leave your phone number for emergencies and a list of what to do along with any supplies your sitter will need in a bucket next to the aquarium so it’s all ready for them to use.

Now go enjoy that awesome vacation (stress free) and don’t worry—your fish will be fine!