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Holidays are the best part of the year, even with all the packing and other errands you have to scramble to get done before your flight takes off. But don't forget about the fish! It's important to make sure your fishy friends are properly cared for while you're away having fun in the sun.

The first order of business should be to figure out how to feed the fish while you're away. You may be surprised to discover that fish can survive for long periods of time (several weeks) without food. In the wild, fish can't always find food on a regular basis, so they have adapted to live in conditions of scarcity. If you're only going away for a week or two, feeding your fish isn't necessarily something you have to worry about. Actually, when you come home the aquarium may be cleaner than when you left because the fish produced little waste during your vacation.

Automatic Feeders

Many people are afraid to leave their fish without food for an extended period of time, no matter what the experts say. This is when an automatic food feeder comes in handy. These devices are designed to release food at specified intervals automatically. Automatic feeders are affordable and you can use them throughout the year as well. Fill the feeder with any type of food you want (tropical fish flakes or pellet food) and it's ready to go. Automatic feeders last for a few weeks before needing a refill. Most of these devices let you adjust the amount of food that's released each time, and are battery-operated.

Another idea is to ask friends, family, or neighbors to feed the fish for you. Divide the amount of food your fish will need each day into containers so that the person who helps you out simply has to follow directions for daily feeding, and you don't have to worry about the possibility of your fish overeating.

For saltwater aquariums, someone may have to empty the skimmer collection cup as it fills with gunk and starts to smell. Or, you can adjust the collection cup before you leave to collect less protein for a few weeks.

If you're going away for longer than two weeks, asking for help from someone you know and trust is a necessity because even if the fish are being fed properly, the quality of the tank water needs to be maintained.

Maintenance ' Before you leave

Prior to leaving, do a partial water change to clean the water out and ensure that your fish don't become stressed and stay healthy while you're away. This also ensures that water levels remain at an acceptable place during your absence. Even with a high rate of evaporation, the tank will be tolerable until you return.

It's also a good idea to rinse out the filters and make necessary replacements.

What about the lighting? A simple solution is to purchase a light timer that will turn on and off automatically so that everything in your aquarium receives the proper amount of light to stay healthy and alive.