An automatic feeder on an aquarium that can be filled up with flakes or granules for your pet goldfish sounds ideal, especially if you are going on holidays.
The feeder releases the food into the tank at regular intervals and keeps the fish well fed. That may sound too good to be true – and indeed it's not without a drawback or two.
Experts generally advise you to not leave the aquarium unattended for more than two to three days, even if an automatic feeder is in use.
And during your absence, you may still need an aquarium sitter to check every second day that everything is running smoothly.
If you are going on holiday, check the feeder two to three days beforehand to see whether it really starts at the set time, the feed flap goes down correctly and that the machine is working properly.
Check the amount of food dispensed in advance to ensure that the fish are getting enough food.
If you are feeding them different sized flakes, there is no guarantee that the same amount will always fall out of the feeder, say Maike Wilstermann-Hildebrand, an ornamental fish specialist and author on aquarium care. In that case, the size of the portions should be adjusted, she says.
The suitability of an automatic feeder for your aquarium depends on the type of fish in it. Some fish only eat live food, which cannot be dosed through an automatic feeder. The same applies to frozen food.
When choosing an automatic feeder, keep the feeding habits of your fish in mind – and what you want to use the feeder for.
If you have different types of fish in your aquarium, a feeder with several small feeding chambers might be an option, as you can mix granules, flakes and food tablets, says Wilstermann-Hildebrand.
Feeder models with an internal spiral conveyor that pushes the food out are particularly useful, if the appliance is to be used mainly when you are on holiday.
That's because here the opening is closed and the food in the storage container cannot become damp. – dpa
