Snail Eaters

[graphicdesign_r]

I have a planted driftwood tank. I also have inverts so I won't treat chemically (and I don't really like chemicals anyways).

Well, I finally found a new home for my adopted fish (8.5" Pl*co, 8.25" iridescent). The pl*co and iridescent I rescued are now in a nice 75 gallon tank that a friend of a friend had been setting up (I went to a party there, and I did a double take as soon as I walked in and saw this big tank, totally empty!!), and I hope they will do well. Gave him all of the information I could (he didn't know much, but at least knew enough to cycle his tank etc.). So now I have a touch of open biomass.

I'm thinking of getting 1 Yo-Yo loach... mostly because I have snails... Though it will be nice for awhile to just keep what I have, and to not have to vacuum up thirty or forty pieces of 3 inch long pl*co poop every day or so. Hopefully now I can go longer than a week before changing water (although I did a 30% today to give the tank a fresh start.

I was thinking of putting 1 Yo-Yo in there... (don't worry about cray/crab, they've never bothered a thing and have been in there 6+ months). Are there any other snail eaters that have a good appetite and would function OK in this tank?

They cray and crab eat snails, but only one or two a day if I'm lucky, and the snails hide more now that they realize we're out to get them. I see more snail eggs than ever though. :rant2:

[RockabillyChick]

ok, kind of off topic quetsion, but why do you replace the "e" in "Pleco" with an *? i've seen serveral people do that on this forum and its driving me nuts.

[graphicdesign_r]

LOL, legend has it that if the word "pl*costomus" is spelled out, the fish being talked about will die. It's a silly superstition, but all superstitions start for a reason? Maybe someone just did a lot of posting and had REALLY bad luck with the fish he was posting about...

[Marala]

That is why they do that? That is silly!

[graphicdesign_r]

Anyone have a RELEVANT response?

[Holly9937]

It is usually a better idea to address the cause of so many snails, as opposed to getting fish to just cover up the problem. Excessive nutrients in the tank allow snails to thrive. :)

[graphicdesign_r]

Oui, I agree, but that would involve removing all my live plants and driftwood and that's not really a good option either. I know the snails are feasting on the wood, but it's vital to my plants etc.

[Roan Art]

Anyone have a RELEVANT response?
*SNORT!*

You crack me up :)

Holly is right, you should address the cause and not treat the symptoms . . . AND get a Yo Yo anyhow cause they are WAY cool :)

Roan

[Roan Art]

Oui, I agree, but that would involve removing all my live plants and driftwood and that's not really a good option either. I know the snails are feasting on the wood, but it's vital to my plants etc.She's talking about overfeeding and stuff. I have wood in my tanks and the snail population is under control. Just a few snails. I cut WAY back on my feeding practices and the snails only multiply according to how much food they can get.

Roan

[graphicdesign_r]

I'll give it a try. Thanks RA. I'll get me a yo-yo anyways, I like the way they look :D Also he'll be really happy for awhile hunting snails.

[FreddytheFish]

Kuhlis and clowns will eat snails.

[daveedka]

Be cautious adding a loach to tank already overpopulated with snails. I almost killed my firemouth doing this once. he didn't know when to quit eating and literally got so wide he couldn't swim properly for a couple of days. Not sure loaches are that gluttonous, but be careful.
Dave

[Halo]

I had to move my goldfish into my snail shack for a few days while I was working on the pond. When I came in half an hour later, I could'nt find any of the 400 plus snails in the shack. The goldfish looked.... saited.. But they were pretty darn big goldies even back then.


If you want to add a fish to help with biological control, clown loaches to eat baby snails like popcorn, but they require a pretty big tank, and do best in groups of five. Kuli loaches eat snail eggs I hear, but don't have direct experience. They also stay smaller than the clowns, but as with the whole botia family, loaches are delicate, scaleless fish. Good water conditions are a must.

Lastly, I'd still worry about the crawfish sharing the ground floor with other bottom dwellers, particularly soft ones like loaches. Crawfish can be agressive as we've all heard. If he gets one grumpy day, it can ruin your whole loach.

Oh yeah, almost forgot... loaches are happy eaters. They eat a lot, but they also swim a lot, and they don't overdo it like goldfish will. You should even be able to track a loach's progress by the number of empty shells he leaves outside his cave.

[fishypoo2]

I definitely think loaches are the best (I would pick either a khuli or a clown). Although there are some cichlids that love snails, but would also probably take a liking to your plants and more docile/smaller fish in the tank. Also, most fish (esp. large tetras, angelfish, livebearers, etc.) can be trained to eat snails thet you have crushed for them...

Ryan

[Spunky]

Clowns would get way too big for your tank and as Halo said, they like to be in groups. Khulis are smaller (@3”) They also like to be in groups of 4 or more. I have never had any so I can not tell you how good they are at eating snails. Yoyos however I have had, and they do a great job getting rid of snails, are smaller @4” max. They too need to be in groups (3 or more.)

Again, like Halo said I would be worried about your crawfish. One day you could wake up and :eek: