Feeding and Nutrition :: Vacation time! Best automatic feeder?

[psumichael]

Hi all,

I'm going to be taking a vacation later this summer for about a week. Planning to purchase an automatic feeder for my aquarium which has one 6" RES, two Rosey Red Minnows, two Buenos Aires Tetras and one Zebra Danio. Any suggestions on brand and model? I plan to put a mixture of turtle pellets and fish food in the feeder and have it dispense once or twice a day.

Thanks for any input/suggestions/tips!

It shouldn't matter too much but here's a video of the aquarium: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0tlBz9o34[/youtube]

[Linus]

I've never used an automatic feeder before. Turtles can go a long time without being fed. I usually just drop some feeders and plants in there and go. But, you do have some fish in there, and they do need to eat. Plus, hungry turtle=fish dinner.

[steve]

I don't think anyone has recommended a specific brand or model, but it'll be great if someone can check in on them and drop a few pellets when there.

[psumichael]

I just ordered an Eheim Everyday Fish Feeder from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F2117I) for $33. Will post an update on how it works out.

[SINI5T3R]

iv heard from alot of friends that almost ALL Automatic feeders ant very good. even with just fish...the fish get excited becauxse they learn that there is food in there and they end up splashing water in it and next thing you know the food is soggy and rotting and it clogs the auto feeders. my buddy had two huge oscars and they went on vacation and that happened and they were dead when they got home. just think of a turtle knowing food is in there.

[psumichael]

iv heard from alot of friends that almost ALL Automatic feeders ant very good. even with just fish...the fish get excited becauxse they learn that there is food in there and they end up splashing water in it and next thing you know the food is soggy and rotting and it clogs the auto feeders. my buddy had two huge oscars and they went on vacation and that happened and they were dead when they got home. just think of a turtle knowing food is in there.

Hmm....the reviews for this feeder are great. Also, it will be located a good 12 inches above the waterline for my setup so maybe that won't be an issue for me. I'll let you guys know how it works out.

[sarahji]

Hey there,

I use that same Eheim feeder that psumichael uses (EHEIM Everyday Fish Feeder Programmable Automatic Food Dispenser). I find that it works well, unless like someone mentioned, it gets water in it. One time I was getting late to catch my plane and had already set up the feeder and then remembered to add some water to the tank and the food got a little wet without my noticing... the thing partially clogged and my poor turtles didn't get as much food as they should have. But that was my own fault.

Still, it seems like a pretty good setup. I find that with the Reptomin sticks I feed, it seems to dispense either a little too much or too little depending on how wide you set the opening, but hey, it's better than having to hire a petsitter to come out five times while you're gone.

As it is, I usually have a petsitter come check on them once or twice and give them some fresh veggies and add some water.

Let us know which feeder you choose and how it works out!

[psumichael]

Here are two videos of the Eheim Everyday Fish Feeder dispensing a mixture of fish crisps, granules and Reptomin pellets:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKhUS62Ugu4[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNvDCA4dk-4[/youtube]

[SINI5T3R]

wow those ones are sweet. the ones iv ever seen are just big squares that just shoot pellets into the tank. that one looks alot nicer. I like how it rotates and drops what ever is caught in the hole at the time. how much that cost you?