My darter - finally!

[Cameo]

Ever since someone on the box mentioned how great darters were eating snails, I've had my eye out looking for some. I finally found one at FOTAS. He's a 3"  Orange throat darter and he's plopped down in the middle of the substrate with a lot of Malaysian Trumpet Snails. So far, I haven't seen him eat any. He's fairly personable. He's aware of me and turns his head 90 degrees to stare right back at me. Very lizard like.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: My darter - finally!

Think that was Nick who mentioned it...

[Nickintex]

Re: My darter - finally!

That's a South American darter-tetra (hummingbird tetra) that is a great snail eater, not the true North American darters.
Unfortunately, I lost mine during Ike
Sometimes you can find swamp darters in the ghost shrimp tank in Houston Aquatics. They do not eat snails, but they are very entertaining.

[Cameo]

Re: My darter - finally!

So do you ever get to actually see them eat the snails? And do they eat the shells too? Are they able to eat larger snails like nerites? Thx.

[Nickintex]

Re: My darter - finally!

So do you ever get to actually see them eat the snails? And do they eat the shells too? Are they able to eat larger snails like nerites? Thx.

When I had her (the males are more colorful), I caught her in the act with an mt snail hanging from her mouth, like a cat carrying a toy. She did not eat the shells. There were no nerites in the tank, so cannot answer that. 8)