Hi! I’ve had my betta for about two months and I am very much new to all of this. I have done much research to give him a good quality of life and I do as much as I can to make him happy 😊 Being this said, I am traveling out of the country the last week of November (11/27-12/2). What would be the best way to keep him fed and well cared for while I’m gone? (Note: I live alone. I could ask someone to come over and take care of him, but I would prefer not to)
I’ve read about fish feeders, but there are so many types and brands, I’m a bit confused.
Also – I adopted a shrimp about 2 weeks ago. I don’t think I need to worry much about him, do I? They get along (at least for now, my betta doesn’t seem to take much interest in him. They’re about the same size).
Any recommendations and/or personal experience is greatly appreciated 🫶🏻
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1ooh0bx
Posted by Public_Quality7428
10 Comments
Tank size: 5 gallons
Heater and filter?: no heater, yes filter
Tank temperature: room temperature, I live in the Caribbean. (The tank is not next to a window)
How long have you had your fish: I got everything together 2 months ago.
I’ve changed the water two times. About 30%-40% change.
I feed him twice a day (2-5 pellets), one day of fasting (Sundays).
Decorations no, plants yes. He has betta “toys”, such as hoops.
Healthy betta fish can go about a week sometimes more without food. While not ideal your fish will be ok. How quickly do your nitrates go up? You may want to fast the day before the trip too to reduce waste and nitrate spikes. Automated feeders aren’t recommended because they tend to overfeed or fail. Both of those could be deadly to your fish.
I’d personally just not feed for 5 days before I’d trust an auto feeder. Seen too many horror stories. If you do ask someone to go over, you don’t have to have them do it every day you’re gone. If you do that definitely pre-portion the food and hide the rest so they can’t overfeed
A few tips to make things easier while you’re away:
•Heater: Even in the Caribbean, it’s still a good idea to have one. Bettas do best around 78–80°F (25–27°C), and even a few nighttime dips can stress them out. A small adjustable heater with a built-in thermostat (like the Aqueon Pro 50W or Fluval E50) will keep things stable.
•Feeding: Bettas can actually go 5–7 days without food and be totally fine — it’s safer than using a random feeder that might overfeed and foul the water. If you’d rather not skip feeding, grab a tested automatic feeder and try it for a few days before your trip.
•Shrimp: Your shrimp will be fine! They graze on biofilm and algae. You can drop in a tiny piece of algae wafer before leaving just for peace of mind.
•Before you go: Do a 30–40% water change, clean the filter sponge gently in tank water (not tap), and put your lights on a timer (6-8 hours a day). Stability is the goal.
You’re already doing awesome — just keep things simple and stable before your trip. Your betta will be totally fine 💙
Worst comes to worst, your betta will eat the shrimp while your gone, other then that don’t bother feeding or have anyone feed.
Honestly fasting him for a week is probably safer than relying on an auto feeder or friend to feed the proper amount. I’d just have someone check in to make sure the heater and filter or whatever are all operational and not worry about the food.
Having said that, depending on the size and visibility of the shrimp and your betta’s personality there is a chance he will eat his roommate while you’re gone.
Good advice as I was wondering the same thing. I’m heading out of town for 5 days and been thinking how to feed my beta. Thanks ppl 😊
I use an automatic feeder for my betta when on vacations.. never had an issue
As long as your tank is cycled, I’d do a clean and feed right before you leave (at least feed the day of 11/27 if possible) and he should be fine, just make sure to feed as soon as you get home. Don’t get any of those long standing food pellets, bad for the water quality and they don’t have that much nutrients anyhow. Not worth it
Ask a friend to visit at least every two days if no one can come daily. I’d avoid leaving the betta without food for a whole week, he’d probably survive, but it’s not ideal and something may happen when you’re away.
Be sure to explain carefully that they should feed only 2–3 pellets (or however much you normally feed), not a whole pinch, overfeeding/pouring half of the packet of food to the tank is the main risk with inexperienced helpers.
It’s also a good idea to set up a camera for peace of mind.