weather loaches and inverts

[evelyn80]

do weather loaches eat snails and shrimp? just wonderin so i know when i get my new weather loach if i gotta catch my snail and shrimp outa there

[Nolapete]

Most loaches/botias will eat snails to some degree. Almost every one of them will eat shrimp. Weather loaches will ravenously eat both.

By the way, it's betta not beta for siamese fighting fish aka bettas.

[H3D]

I am pretty sure they will try to.

[petluvr]

I know mine does:)

[evelyn80]

ahh ok ill go change that thx pete! and i guess i gotta go catch my mystery snail and shrimp b4 i get my new loach :)

[paperdragon]

Most loaches/botias will eat snails to some degree. Almost every one of them will eat shrimp. Weather loaches will ravenously eat both.

Weather loaches don't eat snails, except for eggs and the absolute smallest newborn pond snails. I've got hundreds of pond, ramshorn, and mts plus 5 briggs and a spixi in with mine.

[Nolapete]

I suspect that you have so many snails that you don't notice them missing or you have an "escargot intolerant" weather loach.

I doubt seriously that Loaches Online (http://www.loaches.com/species-index/weather-loach-misgurnis-anguillicaudatus) has misinformation on such a common loach.

[evelyn80]

loaches online has never lied... lol mabye a special loach u got there?

[paperdragon]

Oh, if you're putting crushed snails in to feed them they'll dig in all right, they'll go absolutely bonkers for 'em. But they can't get through the shells on most snails on there own. You certainly don't need to worry about them killing mystery snails unless it's already dying anyways.

Read Lupin's post in the "dojos eating my shrimp" thread from a couple days ago if you really think my loaches are just weird. :)

[Corax]

I have a dojo loach in my 75g, and I see no evidence that it has ever messed with my plethora of snails.. Sometimes, I wish he would!

[jpappy789]

According to Lupin "snake-like" loaches such as dojos and kuhlis don't have the mouth structure to prey on snails...botias are different apparently.


Dojos eat snails? Very interesting. How big are both the snails and dojos exactly? What species are these apple snails? Any pics to verify this if you've actually seen them eat? What else were in the tank? I have never seen dojos eating snails. I have one with my canas from hatchlings to adults and the dojo itself is 5 inches in length. If you look at the mouth structure, I doubt a weather loach would pry off the operculum of a healthy apple snail. They do not even bite the antennaes, let alone pry off a snail out of its shell with the kind of mouth structure they have. Are you sure the apple snails aren't just stressed out and the dojos simply pick them while their operculums are open? Are you sure the chain store simply did not starve both the snails and the dojos that the snails eventually weakened thus allowing the dojos access to the body?

I'm sorry but anything about dojos being the suspects when it comes to snails especially where the operculums are concerned is bunk. They cannot even drill through the shell or the operculum. Shrimps are another story. With botiine loaches, it is another story but the serpentine ones such as kuhlis, I doubt it. Unless you mistook another loach for a dojo, unless there is a photo offered that such scenario actually happened which there hasn't been, I doubt it.

[evelyn80]

wait i may have mis i'd the loach im after. its called a golden dojo loach. same loach diff loach?

[jpappy789]

Just a color morph of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, same fish.

[evelyn80]

is it genetically altered or is it natural? thx jpap or any1 else that answers me! :D

[jpappy789]

Just a selectively bred color variation I believe.

[evelyn80]

alright good! i shall get 1 soon then and post pics 2 :D

[Nolapete]

asta la bye bye shrimp

[jpappy789]

:iagree:

Although snails may be okay, shrimp are different.

[evelyn80]

thats why i was askin so i would know if i ad to get the shrimp out or not

[Nolapete]

BTW, weather loaches have different mouth structure than kuhli loaches and get to be 8-9" unlike the 4" or so kuhli.

[evelyn80]

i would get kuhlis but my mom cannot stand anything snake or snake like so im screwed there :( weathers were my only other option and i am aware of the size of them my 30 should hold him/her just find :)

[Lupin]

Shrimps and snails are different. Shrimps tend to molt and in most cases, in the wrong places so they are unlikely to survive once a fish gets a taste after attacking one. Snails on the other hand are fine with the serpentine loaches. I have canas from hatchlings to adults with my dojo and the dojo is just not impressed by the snails crawling around him. He doesn't however eat them nor has anyone else in applesnail.net. Even a reliable site can have its flaws. Nothing is perfect and most information about dojos eating snails is bunk. Either the person parroted the popular belief, doesn't have the time to study body anatomy or it was purely coincidental that the snails disappeared on their own accord or the fact people refuse to admit they starve their dojos to death to make them eat snails which they certainly will in desperate measures but this is rare with wellfed specimens.

[evelyn80]

well the loach master has spoken so let it be done! ill try to get next time i go into the town over from us :)