Snail eaters

[Zulaab]

Well my roomate's sons planted tank is becoming a snail tank.  It houses today 12 guppies (adults) and a number of young, and I am sure about 100+ snails.  I understand from reading that Clown Loach will consume sails, and I was wondering how about Kuhli Loach.  I was thinking about getting 3 or 4 of them to cruise the tank (I have read they thrive best when there are a few together).

What experiences have you all had and what is recommended for control ?   I am looking for a natural way to control the problem, ie not chemical or manual removal.    Clown Loaches I believe will simply become to big for a 20 Tall.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Snail eaters

My new planted tank was being over run by tiney MTS.  They covered the green algie that was beginning to cover the glass and the one striped botia in the tank spent most of his time hiding.   The tetras, corries & plecos could care less about the snails but three days ago, I added a bunch of small angels and they must like snails because today ther are none on the glass. Dont know if they were all eaten or just nibbled and took refruge in the gravel.......  time will tell.

The angels also seem to be nibbling on the black hare algie between feeding times.

[fishhog]

Re: Snail eaters

Before I needed snails for my puffer, I was over run by snails. I grabbed some Kuhli loaches but I don't think they controlled the snail population any. Now, I just pull them for puffer food!

[MudSkipper]

Re: Snail eaters

I was over run with snails about a month ago and I put 3 Botia Striata "Zebra Loach's" in my 100 gallon planted tank.  Within a week they had removed all the eggs and small snails, leaving only a few of the bigger guys.  They stay fairly small, I believe around 5 inches.  Great fish!!!

[Zulaab]

Re: Snail eaters

Mudskipper,  Where did you get them ?  Do you think they will go after guppies ?  This tank is a guppy tank primarily.

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: Snail eaters

Buy a small clown loach or two, when they get too big for your tank they'll be worth more than what you paid for them. They are slowish growers so it wont be soon that they outgrow your tank.

[MudSkipper]

Re: Snail eaters

I got them at the fish gallery.  I think your guppies will be fine.  I have a large school of neon tetra's and they could care less about them.  

Here is some info on them.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myfish/105-Zebra_Loach_Botia_Striata.html

[High-PH]

Re: Snail eaters

I'm worried because I put my red cherry shrimp into the newish Planted tank.  I know I'll have to be kind of choosy about what I put in to eat the snails so it won't eat the shrimp, too.  I guess a baby clown loach wouldn't be out of the question, but I'm going to let the tank age a bit more, first.

[Nickintex]

Re: Snail eaters

If you can find them, South American darters (aka darter-tetras) are voracious snail eaters.  I found a lone one at Fish Gallery and he ate all the Malaysian live bearing snails in that tank. Not that I really wanted him to, I used those snails for Fahaka puffer food.
-Nick

[sproett]

Re: Snail eaters

I've heard that you can put a container with a hunk of zucchini or something like that in the tank before you go to bed.  The next morning you'll have a container with lots of snails.  If you do this a few times your population should go down.  At least that's what I've heard, haven't tried it yet.  I have a feeling I'll be doing this soon, I'm noticing more snails everyday.  Luckily, I have a pufferfish to feed!

[Fire_chair]

Re: Snail eaters

I've got a bit of a snail problem myself and I was thinking about "renting" a Clown Loach from Petsmart. And I quote, "Remember, all of our fish have a 14 day guarantee so you can bring them back for any reason within 14 days for a full refund." I might have to get a couple to see if they can keep my snail tank "clean", and if they eat all of my precious snails I'll have a pretty good reason to want a refund.

[Somefishguy]

Re: Snail eaters

hahah beat the system

[Fire_chair]

Re: Snail eaters

The loach gets a good meal and you get rid of the snails, it's win-win.

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: Snail eaters

Until any diseases the clown loach brings in kills all of the fish in your tank.

You should always quarantine!!!!

[MateFrio]

Re: Snail eaters

I have three Botia kubotai and all my small rams horned snails are gone.  The big ones are there but hiding.  Has anyone heard a Loach click for food?  I got to hear it the other day.