dwarf chain loaches eating snails?

[lethalcustoms00]

thats really it. will dwarf chain loaches eat snails? my 180 i sso over run with mts that my filters cant hardly run without being stopped up with them. i really need something to eat these down to a reasonable number. the tank is a heavily planted, community tank. so if anyone has a suggestion that isnt a yo yo or a clown, please let me know

[jpappy789]

I had mts with sids and noticed a few empty shells here and there, but to be quite honest I really doubt they put much of a dent in the overall population. They just multiply so quickly. A much better way to keep them in line would be to cut down on feeding and/or up your maintenance so there isn't a lot of extra food lying around.

[toddnbecka]

Assassin snails are probably the best bet for controlling mts, prefilters may also be a good idea.

[jpappy789]

Good point, never had any MTS make it into my HOBs with a foam pre filter...

[smitty]

Get a common pleco.

[fishorama]

My sids ate pond snails but I still had them in the filters. A prefilter is a good idea although I get a few pond snails even with them, not sure if MTS are as determined to get through foam. The only loaches I have had lately with MTS that ate them are histrionicas but they're kinda hard on some plants.

[lethalcustoms00]

i have used prefilter in the past, and while that does sow them down, it doesnt stop them. and them being in the filters is only half the problem. a common pleco is out of the question for my tank, and i cant see how it would clean up a snail population too. I already have a royal, 2 emporers, 2 blue panaque, 1 rubbernose, 1 blue seam, and several bushynose in the tank. i dont want any losches that willget real big, yo yos woyuld be the biggest i want in the tank. im mostly looking for suggestions for a smaller loach that i can obtain in the states.

[jpappy789]

i have used prefilter in the past, and while that does sow them down, it doesnt stop them. and them being in the filters is only half the problem. a common pleco is out of the question for my tank, and i cant see how it would clean up a snail population too. I already have a royal, 2 emporers, 2 blue panaque, 1 rubbernose, 1 blue seam, and several bushynose in the tank. i dont want any losches that willget real big, yo yos woyuld be the biggest i want in the tank. im mostly looking for suggestions for a smaller loach that i can obtain in the states.

what type of prefilter did you use? Never found any in my HOBs using one like this...

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/14583/product.web

Get a common pleco.

If your common pleco eats MTS then it has an identity problem...:rolleyes:

[Mgamer20o0]

i have snails with my dwarf chain loaches and they havet ate them at all.

[TheFishBoss97]

what about dwarf pea puffers, not sure? no experience,

yoyos work great, but you said no, so i would try zebras or skunks?

assassins are great and +3 on covering the filter intake

[msjinkzd]

what size tank is this and what is the stocking? Have you done bait and trap removal yet?

I am not really a fan of adding something to eat something else. I would increase your maintenance, bait and remove, and see where your problem stands.