clown loaches and snails

adblair

adblair

Fisher
Dec 5, 2003
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Memphis, TN
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I know clown loaches will eat small snails, but my question is will they eat snails bigger than they are? I am considering moving some fish and snails around in my tanks and I'm thinking about putting 2 apple snails and 1 mystery snail in a tank where there is one small clown loach (just under 2 inches). The snails are larger than the clown loach, will they be safe in there at least temporarily?
 
They'll be safe. You won't see them come fully out of their shells like b4 due to the loach harassing them. The bigger snails are able to hide like a turtle using their (senior moment...) flapper valve thingy that covers the end of the shell. The loaches can't penetrate it and the snail is safe.
I had a pair of "Gold Inca" snails (P. bridgesii) in my 90gal with 2 3"clown loaches, 2 yo-yos, and a zebra loach. They still moved around and the loaches learn they can't get 'em, but the snails don't come fully out.
 
Just as an aside, I hope you're planning on getting some more loaches--your single little guy will be lonely. Loaches don't like being singles and are such great fish. They are also SO much more fun when they are playing games with each other!
 
Yes, I will either give my little guy to someone with playmates, or I will add some more to my tank. I really like them, but the LFS doesn't carry them, so I would have to go 3 hours just to get any healthy ones. I had 3, but lost 2 recently due to a battle with ich (I didn't quarantine some new fish).
 
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