Do Un-plug heaters. Most of the summer you’ll never need to use them, so unplug them. It’s better than turning them down, because when cool weather comes you don’t have to fool around trying to reset them to the proper temperature.

Don’t worry Excess food spoils faster in warmer water. Never feed your fish more then they can eat in a five minute period.

Don’t worry Don’t be tempted to buy fish before going on vacation You’re taking a chance on their health and ability to adjust to other fish in your tank. Wait or set up a species tank just for them. Inform your fish sitter they are new and to watch them more carefully.

Do Before going on vacation buy extra plants, rooted, or floating bushy plants like Cobomba and floating top cover plants like Salvinia or Riccia. The rooted and bushy plants are for hiding fry that might be born while you’re gone, or for more timid fish to hide among. Plants are also a source of food for some fish. Floating plants will help keep fish from jumping, help keep the water clear, and will actually help cut down on water evaporation.

Don’t worry Don’t crowd your fish. Remember, warmer water does not hold as much oxygen as cooler water.

Do Have a BAS member or neighbor check your fish at least once a week when you’re away for longer than a few days. Better yet, get a live-in fish sitter/house sitter. That’s what I do when I go on vacation.

Don’t worry Most healthy fish will do very nicely on one or two feedings a week, and an occasional once-a-week feeding won’t hurt most fish either.

Do If you go away leave written instructions about what you want your fish sitter to do. I tape index cards to individual tanks with instructions for the fish in that tank, example: i eat live food only or i take live & dry food, keep the cover on i jump. You get the idea.

Do Leave your phone number and that of another BAS member near the tanks. In case of an emergency your fish sitter can call you or another BAS member for help.

Do Have a great and safe summer and get ready for more exciting freshwater and marine/reef Events coming up when you get back.

Happy summer from the BAS Board