I have two comet/common mix goldfish. One is about 2 inches, the other is larger, about 2 1/4 inches. I hate to leave them alone, but it seems that I have to, for 4 whole days! They are accustomed to being hand fed twice a day with luscious foods like peas along with their flakes.

The tank is just barely cycled, recovering after about 2 weeks with medications in there. There is NO algae growing in the tank (unfortunately) or they could snack on that.

Should I get one of those automated feeders and try to get them accustomed to pellets? Will the water and tank be a horrible mess when I return?

I don't want the fish to be starving, but I also don't want the larger fish to start nibbling at the smaller one. I have recently found that he chases the smaller one away when I am feeding them, and he seems much more aggressive, the other much more shy.

4 days without food is absolutely fine. Just make sure u feed them & do a large water change just before u go.

4 days without food is nothing to worry about.

I would rather leave my fish go without food when I'm gone than trust someone or thing to feed them and end up coming home to dead fish. Which has happened.