How long can a fish go without eating?

Hi everyone, I am planning on leaving my house for a couple days and no one can come by to feed my fish. I'm not too concerned with most of them, it's just the blackback butterfly that I'm worried about. All the other fish are eating flakes, and I have that on a timer. The blackback won't eat anything other than mysis shrimp and all I have are frozen mysis shrimp.

I will be gone Friday - Monday (4 days). Is my blackback going to starve? Will he learn to eat the flakes out of starvation? Is there some other alternative to frozen mysis shrimp?

Any advice would be great. THANKS!

 

IMO 4 days is ok. Just make sure he eats before you leave and feed him when you come back. I've been longer than that between feedings

Marc.

 

There's plenty of amphipods and copepods in your tank that the fish can snack on while you're gone. The fish will be fine IMO.

 

I think they will be okay, ive gone longer no feeding my fish while ive been out!

 

I'm in agreeance with above. Your fish should do fine. Many pods etc. in your tank to graze on. Have you tried using algae/seaweed to feed your Butterfly fish?
Fish can go for a week or more many times with no ill effect!
As for the corals, i wouldn't have polyps in with your Butterfly as the polyps will be food for it as you are finding out!!! Unless you don't care if the Butterfly feasts on the Buttons-it could eat them while you are gone as well.

 

Thanks, you guys make me feel a little better about leaving the poor guys. Ya, there's nothing I can do with the polyps.. they're in there and I can't return them to the store. At least they'll serve as "reserves" food for the butterfly.

Thanks everyone!