MTS snail problem, suggestions?

[Complexity]

My 90g cichlid tank is completely overrun with malaysian trumpet snails. It's so bad, I made a strainer for the sand, and can easily scoop out 20 or 30 in just one sitting. And that doesn't catch the small babies that go right through my strainer.

I tried adding assassin snails, but they can get picked on by the fish so they tend to stay hidden most of the time. I think the MTS can multiply faster than the assassins can eat them.

My next thought is to add loaches. Any suggestions other than adding loaches? Or if loaches are the best solution, which loaches would you suggest? All I can think of is clown loaches, but I'm not sure if that's the best choice or if there's something else I should consider.

[Mzungu]

You'd be the perfect person to report on how MTS are beneficial to planted tanks but quickly overrun fish-only tanks (especially cichlid tanks) and become pests!

(You might have to clean out your canisters more often now, those MTS LOVE to get in there...)

I don't have experience with Assassins yet, so I'll let others report on their experiences. They may have had more luck after the assassins had adjusted to your tank conditions for a while, I'm not sure.

But the clown loaches will do great with your Malawis. They're boisterous enough and big enough and fast enough not to be targets. And they're so much fun!

[Complexity]

How many clown loaches do you think would be a good number? I would usually get large groups of any fish that needs to be in a group, but clowns get BIG. 7 is clearly too many. I don't like even numbers for some reason. So 3 or 5?

As far as MTS in a planted tank, they're pretty much like the earthworms of the substrate. Their constant digging keeps the substrate loose which helps the plants' roots to grow in.

I never expect to completely eradicate MTS from any tank because of the way they hide in the substrate and because, as you mentioned, they end up inside filters. Even cleaning out the filters don't always catch the tiny babies. Besides, I'm sure the sand underneath the rocks have plenty of MTS to ensure that I can never be totally rid of them. My main goal has always been to control the population. I've had good success in my planted tanks, but this 90g is going wild. I need to put in controls or the MTS will continue to overrun the tank.

[Darbex]

I would say on assassins. They are much better than loaches and do the same job as MTS. You need to give them time. How many did you put in the tank? I had a major MTS problem in my 90G so I added about 20 assassins. Within about a year I can say I am MTS free and now have about 120 Assassins that I found. The assassins will eat the MTS but you will hardly ever see them out in the tank which is a plus for me because I hate seeing the MTS all over everything. The assassins will generally hide unless their food supply is out and the food is on the top.

[PhishPhreek]

I have a pair of tiger boteas in with my Red Devils and they are aggressive enough to hold their own.

I have had good success in elimination MTS by laying a painters drop cloth on the driveway and spreading the substrait out in the summer sun for a week.

[geoff_tropheus]

I kill MTS regulary by perrforming the following...

Remove Substrate, Use Had-A-Snail, Dose the aquarium for several months with Coppersafe after each waterchange, and as a last resort microwave gravel, decor, and media.

I routinely clean out filters and remove them.

If left unchecked, they will completely overrun your tank.

Some people have had success with loaches, but never really known for them to be erradicated.

[Complexity]

I only added about 6 assassins. I first put 2 in the tank to see if the fish would eat them. When I saw that they were still alive, I added some more. But then I'd see them sitting in the tank, not moving. I pulled 4 out, and 3 of them were still alive.

Have you had assassins in a cichlid tank? I wouldn't mind adding 20 if I knew they didn't just become an expensive snack for the fish.

[Mzungu]

That's what I was thinking, and why I posted what I did about others with experience with Assassins. I thought I had heard from a couple of you guys with Assassins that it took a while for them to do some damage, but once they did, they did some damage. Lol. But since I wasn't sure, I didn't want to post that.

How long have they been in the tank, Vicki?

[Complexity]

There is no way I'm going to tear the tank apart to get rid of MTS. I'd end up destroying the good bacteria which would be very unwise with such a heavy fish load.

I may give assassins another try if anyone can confirm that the fish won't eat them. Assassins would be my first choice of control.

[Mzungu]

Tim also has a population of assassins, and I know of a couple others with cichlids and assassins. They'll hopefully chime in here sometime today, but I don't think they've become expensive snacks for most that are keeping them in cichlid tanks.

[Complexity]

How long have they been in the tank, Vicki?

Just for a few weeks. Sounds like I gave up much too quickly.

[Complexity]

Tim also has a population of assassins, and I know of a couple others with cichlids and assassins. They'll hopefully chime in here sometime today, but I don't think they've become expensive snacks for most that are keeping them in cichlid tanks.

My assassins came from Tim. I wonder if he still has enough for me to get some more from him?

[Mzungu]

Sounds like I gave up much too quickly.

I think that's the case. :) Like I said, I'll wait for others to chime in and second what Darbex said, but I think they just take time to work.

[Complexity]

Okay, I'll give them another try. I have so many fish already, and plan to add more, that as much as I'd love to have loaches, I'm afraid it would be too much for the tank. And then there's the long-term consideration. Even if loaches helped now, clowns grow too large for my tank so I'd have to keep trading down to smaller ones.

So I think I'll go with more assassins and give it more time. Thanks to everyone for their help!

[Navarro]

Vicki ask John (fishfreak) the name of this Malawi fish that feeds on them and keep their numbers down, as far as I know they are working great for him.
Cheers,
Luis