hi
I am looking for some advice on automatic feeders. I am a beginer and have not yet set up my tank. I am also a shift worker and will not always be there at feeding time. I have seen some automatic feeders on e bay but im not sure if they will be ok to use or good enough?

Hi Alan,
I think it's a good alternative especially when you cannot feed then regularly. I've ordered exactly the same automatic feeder and am waiting for the delivery. Price was at acceptable level and therefore decided to risk and check it.
Katherine

Hi

Just to say, it's so important to google reviews of the models you choose to buy, some of them allow the food inside to become damp, causing clumping leading to over feeding or worse, clogging, leading to starvation depending on how long you are leaving the House.


Kev

Hi Kev,

You're right. According to the producers information , the model I decided to buy, keeps food dry all the time. But this I'll be able to confirm when I get it. I hope their info was not only a slogan. Otherwise 15 euro lost but 15 sounds better than 50 (as I found this price in one of the pet chain markets on the way to Dublin). Time will show - hope to get it this week.

hi Katherine/ kev
thanks for your feedback. i will check them out before i buy.could you let me know how you get on with your one please Katherine?
thanks alan

I have one of the same model bought at around 15-18 euros opened to test but never got to use it if you like to get it for a tenner let me know

Hi Alan,

No problem, of course I will. This is the one I bought:
cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...geName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Thanks Katherine that would be great. ian ill see how Katherine gets on first . now all i need is a new place to live and ill be laughing.

I personally think that Automatic feeders have their place in the hobby, for example when you might be away for perhaps a week or longer, but there's no real substitute for manually feeding your fish when you're able. Like Kev says there's the ever present danger of the auto feeder under, or even worse, in my view, over feeding your tank.

If you'll be on shift work and not able to feed your fish at regular interval then feed them when you're able to - at least you'll a] be certain you'll have given them the correct amount and b] get the pleasure of seeing your fish eat their food...personally I still, after all these years, get great enjoyment from seeing the fish eat their food, not to mention the way they 'greet' my arrival in anticipation of being fed.

Fish in the wild don't get food at regular times, they eat as and when it appears.

John

Just to inform - dispatch received today and I'll start testing it from tomorrow (don't have batteries at home).
John, I do agree with you. Feeding fish gives pleasure and confidence that they ate proper amount of food but automatic feeder is just an 'emergency exit' when we are away. The model I bought seems to be quite good at the first glance: up to 4 feeding times a day, dosage of quantity of served food. I'll give feedback in some days when I test it.