Are ghost shrimp safe for my African cichlid to eat?

[brown_snake]

Now, I'm aware that the mbuna diet primarily consists of algae. The ghost shrimp are intended as an occasional treat to be given once every month. Anyway, to get back to the matter at hand, is it safe for my Red Zebra to snack on ghost shrimp from time to time? Someone on YA claimed that it's dangerous to feed ghost shrimp to your mbuna, but I thought I'd verify the accuracy of this statement with the more experienced mbuna keepers here. Thanks a lot.

 

[timbo6684]

Now, I'm aware that the mbuna diet primarily consists of algae. The ghost shrimp are intended as an occasional treat to be given once every month. Anyway, to get back to the matter at hand, is it safe for my Red Zebra to snack on ghost shrimp from time to time? Someone on YA claimed that it's dangerous to feed ghost shrimp to your mbuna, but I thought I'd verify the accuracy of this statement with the more experienced mbuna keepers here. Thanks a lot.

I wouldn't feed anything live to mbuna, even once in awhile. You still run the risk of bloat.

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[wild bill]

There is not a fish out there that won't eat food that will fit in there mouth. Your mbuna's will be fine as they eat other baby fish in the wild way more than your monthly treat. Even Tropheus would be fine with this treat and a regular diet of veggie flakes or pellets.

 

[Oddball]

Should be OK, but messy, since mbunas would have to rip ghost shrimp apart to eat them. Just ensure the ghost shrimp aren't carrying horse-hair parasitic worms. You may be better off seeding your tank with gammarus shrimp. They're small enough to be eaten whole by most mbunas and they're great detritus feeders.



Ghost shrimp with parasite





Gammarus (scud) shrimp