fish nibbling on fake plants

[dar]

I recently finished a fishless cycle on a 55 gallon tank and added 6 lake malawi cichlids (all mbuna, I think, although I'm not completely sure). At first they would dart behind the rocks / caves whenever people would approach. Now, however, they have taken to simply ignoring me (unless I am feeding them) and nibbling on my fake plants all the time. They have even frayed the edges of some of my plants made from silk.

Is this normal behavior? Or does this indicate that they are hungry? I currently feed them small amounts twice a day.

 

[Tyler718]

This is normal. They are herbivores and will pick at the algae growth. I had silk plants once in mine with same results. So I now have only 2 plastic plants and lots of rocks and caves. This is more natural for them.

 

[Tightdog1]

most african tanks are plantless or with out very many plants like tyhe conditions are in africa in the lakes.