How long without feeding fish?

[Michigan Reefer]

How long do you think you could go without feeding your fish tank? I'll be gone for 4 nights 5 days to New York and I do have someone coming to check on the tank a couple times while I'm away. I'm leaving Friday morning so i'll feed then, and someone will come and check on the tank Saturday and Monday to feed and I'll be back Tuesday night to feed. I've been feeding pretty heavily all week to get them fat before I starve them for a couple days. I'm sure they'll survive, but I know its not quite enough to keep them happy.
Fish List:
Yellow Tang
Two clowns
1 Benggai Cardinal
1 Randalls Anthia
1 Purple Dottyback
1 Box Filefish

 

[CivicS14]

Do your fish eat pellets? Maybe set up an auto feeder? I have the eheim one that I use and I can be gone over a week with no issues.

 

[mta_morrow]

How long do you think you could go without feeding your fish tank? I'll be gone for 4 nights 5 days to New York and I do have someone coming to check on the tank a couple times while I'm away. I'm leaving Friday morning so i'll feed then, and someone will come and check on the tank Saturday and Monday to feed and I'll be back Tuesday night to feed. I've been feeding pretty heavily all week to get them fat before I starve them for a couple days.
Fish: Yellow Tang

That plan will be just fine. I wouldn’t over feed in advance.

 

[W1ngz]

The most I go is 3 days, (Common for my office tank when there's a long weekend). I add one extra feeding the day before and after. This weekend I also took Friday off, and my colleague who usually feeds for me is away so I'm going to have to come in for a few minutes and feed them.

 

[Michigan Reefer]

Do your fish eat pellets? Maybe set up an auto feeder? I have the eheim one that I use and I can be gone over a week with no issues.

I usually feed frozen foods and mysis flakes mostly with some mix of pellets. I've heard some bad stories with auto feeders and just haven't researched them enough. I don't travel that often and really wouldn't use it much I think. I really enjoy feeding my fish everyday and wouldn't rely on an auto feeder only.

 

[Michigan Reefer]

That plan will be just fine. I wouldn’t over feed in advance.

Yea I tell whoever is watching the tank to feed less then they think. I have come home to pellets sunk and rotting on the sand bed before. Less is more.

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

Do you have many pods?

 

[motortrendz]

A few days at most. Especially with the anthias. They need to feed all day long.

When my father has to go away he measures out the feedings in advance for my step mom. He puts them in little containers, tells her to defrost one a day and feed the tank. This way he knows exactly what's being fed. And how much.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I didn’t feed for 9 days with no ill results

 

[Michigan Reefer]

Do you have many pods?

Yea its a pretty well established tank. I figure they can scavenge around for a couple days.

 

[Paul B]

That is no problem. When I go away I have someone come over every other day and add a small freezer pack of food that I prepare before I go. They are in film containers and all they have to do is dump one in when they come to feed.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

You will be fine.

 

[JumboShrimp]

When I was just about 8 or 9 years old, a neighbor left me in charge of feeding his tank for an extended period of time. I still remember: All I had to do was go into his freezer and unwrap a pre-portioned amount of food he set out for each day and drop it in the tank. No guesswork--foolproof for a child to handle. Best wishes.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Unless I'm going to be gone over a week, I don't worry about feeding. I was actually just gone for a week and a half without feeding. Everyone was fine.

 

[happyreefer101]

Unless I'm going to be gone over a week, I don't worry about feeding. I was actually just gone for a week and a half without feeding. Everyone was fine.

My fishes do not get food twice a year for about 9 days each time.

 

[jurgenph]

i've done two weeks away without feeding. all fish were still alive.
but, i had different fish than you.

when i'm out for longer, i setup an automatic feeder.

or use a weekly pill box container, with instructions to a neighbor to feed from that only.


J.

 

[Signalhead]

I be more concerned with water evaporation (unless you have an ATO) than feeding the fish for that short period of time.....

 

[CindyKz]

I was also wondering about the anthias.

If someone is coming in anyway, why not ask them to drop in some pre-measured food?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Fish will be fine. Just assure water quality is optimum at your departure, , ,, however do not chase numbers/levels to accomplish this.
If you have, I have a trusted and knowledgeable reefer friend who feeds and monitors my tank while we're away. Best assurance/insurance on the health of your specimens

 

[Michigan Reefer]

I was also wondering about the anthias.

If someone is coming in anyway, why not ask them to drop in some pre-measured food?

Right, I was just going to ask him to feed Mysis flake food, but I think i'll have him drop a frozen cube instead.