The fish will fend for themselves as pointed out by the other posters. They really do not need to be fed fish food. They will clean up all the bugs and algae, also keep their own [over] population down if left alone. It is wise to have someone who has been instructed on how to top up the water properly,[i.e.adding de-chlor] should it be required. And knows something about your pump[s], filtering system, etc. At least they should know how to shut off/unplug or re-set, the pump[s] if things should go wrong. "Horton"

Add more soil, soak them, and put them in full shade. Have neighbor check that they are moist and water if necessary, but they should be ok, though larger pots would not hurt.

Couldn't you find someone ~ perhaps a neighbor or a HS student, to tend to your feeder? I think if temp is not too hot, one replenishing should do it! If others around have feeders & garden blossoms they should be fine, IMHO. We are on similar zone ~ they'll be traveling back home in a few more weeks, you may have a few stopping by for a fill-ups! From what I read, they have a great memory for where great stops are, I'm sure they'll find their way again!

A number of years ago, something similar happened in an office I worked in. The people left town without letting the agency know (this was before scheduling companies). They had 2 indoor cats & they had had a big dog, but it had...something. died, kid took it to his new place, something. In-house agent shows the house one day & there's the cutest little dust mop of a dog inside, friendly as all get out, bouncing off the walls, wagging, etc. Cats are under the bed. Agent notices the water bowl is empty, so she fills it & writes owners a note, something like: "Congratulations on your new dog! showed house, filled water bowl, picked up pillows off floor." Homeowner returns, flies into a rage, demands agency pay for the damage caused by... somebody else's dog. That's right. The dog was a "neighborhood" dog, & of course after this nobody was claiming it. Broker declined, said homeowner hadn't even told her they were going out of town, & agent did not let the dog in. There was no way to find out who had let the dog in. Homeowner said her insurance company told her "they're gonna make you pay for it", especially since agent had written a note "admitting" that the dog was in the house. Broker contacts liability carrier who says: no dice. Brokerage had no way of knowing that a dog inside the house was not the homeowner's dog. Adjuster said it would have been worse had the dog belonged there & the agent had let it out. What you have to do, I think, is communicate *everything*, even if it seems like you're overcommunicating. Tell agent you're going out of town, post placards on doors ("Dog in backyard is friendly but jumps on people" etc). & realize that sometimes stuff just happens, & nobody's going to pay you for it. The cats walked in like they lived there. The dog walked in (probably) like it lived there. Everybody lived over it. & we did sell that house.