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If I heavily plant my 46g Mbuna tank do you think it would be wise to add some feeder shrimp? I know Mbuna are herbovors but they do eat Freeze dried worm cubes

Do you think that the shrimp would be able to multiply while in there or would they just be treats?

Inky

If it's heavily planted with areas of thick moss they might survive and they might even multiply. Chances are a bit low though. The cichlids will probably not only grab any shrimp out in the open during the day but try to hunt some down through the plants. If they don't kill the shrimp to eat them they'll still pick on them out of curiosity or just because the shrimp are there. If you can find some cheap freshwater ghost shrimp it's probably worth trying but don't count on them making it. Make sure some have eggs underneath them or they could be saltwater ghost shrimp. I've accidentally ended up with some before. They only make it 2-3days in a freshwater tank.

Would it be benificial to the Mbuna to eat the shrimp?

Inky

The mbunas will shred your plants and your shrimp. African cichlids rearrange their space so much you probably wont be able to keep any plant in the place you want. Africans tend to be vegetarian, also. But they surely would not be able to resist the shrimp.


The Africans will eat the shrimp, but they should not. Most African cichlids should be fed mainly vegetable based foods, but check the specifics for the species you have. Mbunas LOVE to eat frozen blood worms, brine shrimp, plankton, and other meaty foods, HOWEVER these foods lead to problems with the fish, such as bloat.