Feeding Triops while on holiday: With these tips, you can go on holiday worry-free ✈️ ⛱️

Summer is just around the corner and holiday planning is in full swing, but anyone who breeds Triops quickly asks themselves: What will happen to my little prehistoric crustaceans while I’m away? How can I feed the Triops while I’m on holiday? After all, nobody wants to come back from holiday to find that the aquarium is deserted or the animals have starved to death. The good news: with a little preparation, you can go on holiday without any worries, even as a Triops breeder. In this blog article, you will find out what options there are for providing your Triops with the best possible care during your trip, what you should look out for and what mistakes you should avoid.

Feeding Triops while on holiday: How long can they go without food?

Triops are among nature’s most fascinating survival artists. They have populated our planet for over 220 million years and are correspondingly robust in the aquarium. Nevertheless, you should not leave it to chance whether your Triops will survive without you.

Young Triops, which are still growing rapidly, are dependent on regular, nutrient-rich feeding. Just one or two days without food can stunt their development or even jeopardise them. Special care is required here.

Adult Triops, on the other hand, are much more resistant. Depending on the conditions in the aquarium, they can easily survive for several days without direct feeding. Ideally, there will be microalgae, detritus or leftover plant food in the tank, which will serve as a natural food source for them during this time. Nevertheless, you should think about how you can feed the Triops during your holiday.

As a rule of thumb:

• Young animals: Maximum one to two days without food

• Adult animals: Up to seven days without specific feeding, with stable water values and existing growth

Nevertheless, you should take suitable precautions for longer holidays or trips.

Feeding Triops while on holiday: holiday preparations for the Triops aquarium

Before you set off, you can take a few measures to make the time you are away more pleasant and safer for your Triops:

• Large water change: A partial water change (at least 50 per cent) shortly before starting your journey improves the water quality and prevents the build-up of pollutants.

• Check the water values: Check the pH value, nitrite, nitrate and ammonium. The holiday period should only start if the values are stable.

• Supplement plants: floating plants or mosses help to bind excess nutrients, produce oxygen and stabilise the microclimate.

• Encourage natural food sources: Some growth, microalgae or biofilm will provide the Triops with additional food in your absence.

You have already done a lot with this, but what about the actual feeding? How can you feed your Triops while on holiday?

Two tried and tested methods for feeding on holiday

1. The classic solution: feeding by a trusted person

The best and most natural way to feed the Triops during your holiday is to hand them over to family, friends or neighbours. Ideally, you should have someone in your neighbourhood who is familiar with aquariums or is at least willing to give you a brief introduction.

Important points for the briefing:

• Explain the exact amount of food (Triops are voracious: avoid overfeeding!)

• Note feeding times

• Ideally, practise together once

• Leave a telephone number for queries

Tip: It is best to fill the required portions for the duration of your holiday in small doses in advance. This will help you avoid dosing errors.

2. The convenient alternative: automatic feeder for Triops

If no one can be found to look after them or if everyone is away, there is a practical solution for feeding the Triops during your holiday: A fully automatic feeder.

I personally use the SMART Feeder AF-2019B, a battery-operated device that is ideal for feeding Triops. You can buy the SMART Feeder from Amazon, CLICK HERE!

The advantages at a glance:

• Up to four feeding times can be set per day

• Suitable for different types of food (granules, spirulina, food sticks, powder)

• Easy to programme via plus/minus buttons and set function

• Feed quantity flexibly adjustable via slider

• 200 ml capacity – sufficient for longer journeys

• Battery operation – independent of power failures

• The rotating drum releases the food evenly. After a little practice, the appliance can be adjusted reliably.

You can get the automatic feeder from Amazon. Click here for the automatic feeder (affiliate link):

Additional tips for a carefree holiday

• Start the automatic feeder in test mode a few days before your departure to make sure that everything is working properly

• Reduce the number of Triops in the tank if possible, the fewer animals, the lower the risk of cannibalism when food is scarce

• Use robust food that does not dissolve immediately in the water and deteriorate the water quality

• For short trips of two to three days, it is often sufficient to simply feed the Triops well once beforehand; a diet day does not harm the animals

Feeding Triops during your holiday – Conclusion

Feeding your Triops while on holiday is easier than many people think. With a little planning, a reliable helper or a practical automatic feeder, your prehistoric crustaceans will stay well fed and you can relax and enjoy your holiday.

Remember: Young Triops in particular require regular feeding. Adult animals can manage without food for a few days, but you should provide a feeding solution after a week at the latest.

I myself rely on a high-quality automatic feeder and can say from my own experience that it works perfectly if you familiarise yourself with the technology beforehand.

With this in mind, treat yourself to your well-deserved holiday, your Triops are well prepared!

You can get the automatic feeder from Amazon. Click here for the automatic feeder (affiliate link):