tank-sitting sevice in Austin?

[farrah]

Does anyone know of a tank-sitting service in Austin?

[captexas]

You might call around to some of the more well-known fish stores there in town. The stores themselves might not do it, but many fish store employees do work on the side.

[astrong]

How long will you be gone?

[farrah]

10 days.

[astrong]

Yeah, thats worth someone dropping by. Do you have an auto-top-off? I leave town twice a year and put my tank in the hands of my oblivious roomate for 10-14 days at a time. I put a trash can next to my tank for my top off reservoir, leave an extensive note about what to do when, and basically hope for the best. Normally the sump isn't empty when I come home.
I have found that having someone over feed is much worse than under feed the tank. I would have any potential sitters feed half what you normally do. Or if its a reef tank, maybe not at all. The fish won't starve but if overfed, bad things happen. Nonfish people don't usaully understand the consequences of the nitrogen cycle.

[mathias]

that people is dedication...... I can just see this scenerio yea the kids they can eat what ever is the fridge but this tank drop one of these bags in here once a day....... now don't screw that part up :)

[farrah]

I unfortunately don't have an auto top-off. I have a nano and a pico, so topoff is actually a big deal. I have a single fish (damsel) and a cleaner shrimp. I typically feed each of them two pellets everyday, and I have to feed the shrimp by hand or he doesn't get to eat. I don't think anything else needs to be fed at all. The main thing I am worried about (other than topoff) is something going wrong in the tank and an unexperienced friend not being able to figure it out and solve it.

[adaminaustin]

FWIW You could find somebody here (MAAST) that probably lives close to you. If your friend has issues arise they could just call for help. Most tank sitters are pretty expensive.

[captexas]

Yeah, it's good to make friends with a MAAST member nearby that would be willing to drop by every other day to check on the tank to feed the livestock and top off the water level. I have my sister stop by when I am out of town to just feed the tank and tell her to call me if there are any questions. If you do have a friend or family member that can follow your instructions to take care of it for you, try to get one or two fellow hobbyist's numbers they can call if there are any emergency issues that come up.

[JimD]

Where in Austin are you?

[360Reef]

I am always will to tank sit also. I am in the burnet/anderson lane area.

-Greg

[CD]

Where in Austin are you?


I've already PMd her about this. Of course I could understand if she opts out for a close friend...she may not feel too comfy about having a "stranger" in her house.
Ya know - maybe I'll just start my own pet sitting business. We've looked after all kinds of critters...dogs, cats, reptiles, fish, parrots...hmmm...might not be a bad idea!

Wendy

[JimD]

Parrots??? Hmmmm, I know who Im callin next time I take a vacation! lol

[CD]

Parrots??? Hmmmm, I know who Im callin next time I take a vacation! lol


Heheh...heyyyyyyy, do you have a parrot? We were not introduced last time Chris and I were over!
Sending you a PM...

Wendy

[JimD]

Actually, I have two, a Red Lorde and a Yellow Nape, got them both when they were six months old over 20 years ago...

[MikeP]

Aquatek could probably help out with the service for a fee. Also if you run short of other people I would be happy to keep an eye on it for a small fee - just PM me I live at Parmer / Metric area.

As for feeding - in an established tank a week without food won't kill the fish - there should be sufficient microfauna and flora in the tank to sustain them for a bit. I feed twice a week and have gone as long as a week without feeding and my fish are all fat and healthy - the only exception might be predatory type fish like triggers etc who get the urge to sample tankmates if they aren't fed regularly :)

[farrah]

Hey guys, thanks so much for the help, ideas, offers, etc!