Snails, Should I add a loach? *Long*

[ascension101vr2]

I have two tanks that are being over run with snails, and they are eathing all of my plants. I know I can't add any more fish in the ten gallon because it is stocked to its limit, but can I add one or two loaches to the following tank and not cause problems and if so what type?

Ok I have a 30-35 ( when I did a calculation on it it said it was at 32 gallons) gallon planted tank.
NH4 0
Nitrite 0
pH between 7.8-8.0 (I know it is high) It seems most loaches like a lower ph then this
Temp 78-80 F


10 adults guppies and some fry
7 leopard cories
Two large mystery snails (Which I control the population of through removing the eggs they lay at the top of the tank)
and tons of different types of little snails which have different shell characteristics then the mystery snails. These seem to be the real problem. I think the little snails came in with some plants I just got from a friend. I can't find any eggs at the top of the tank but they keep showing up.

So is there a type of loach that can live in these conditions? Thanks for any help.

[OrionGirl]

Bettas are great at consuming snail eggs, but probably won't mix with your guppies. You could try adding one of the botia type loaches, but they can be aggressive to other bottom dwellers.

I guess I'd control the population by reducing feedings. Snails only get out of hand when there is enough food to support a large population. Smaller feedings of the fish should leave less leftovers around for the snails.

Another option, which might work depending on what's in the 10 gallon, would be a dwarf puffer. These guys are small (less than an inch), not overly aggressive, and will tear through a snail population quickly. You could probably keep it in the 10 until it reduced the snails, then move it into the larger tank. It might eat a few guppy fry, but it liekly wouldn't cause as many problems as a loach.

[kuhli]

Actually there are lot's of friendly loache species. Botia Histrionica(gold zebra loach) or botia striata would be awesome for snails. They won't bother your corys. If your tank is on the cool side like 77' dojo loaches would be excellent.
Kuhli

[chris-in-sf]

I have been having the same problem with small snails in my 20 gallon, my only tank. I've been going back and forth for weeks on what to buy to keep the population down, loaches, dwarf puffer, or roll the dice with a dwarf ciclid like a krib or something.

Last weekend we bought one Tetraodon travancoricus, the freshwater Indian dwarf puffer (a small female I think), thanks in large part to OrionGirl and several others on this Forum who said they aren't ALL aggressive, it varies by individual, so we took the chance. Also, my LFS here had a tank of 20 or so. Tank residents are 3 cories, 1 dwarf gourami, 6 tetras, and one SAE.

So far, so good. The puffer goes about her business of floating around the tank, being very mellow, occasionally jumping into the powerhead current, and ignoring the other fish. I've seen a few less snails, but she hasn't eaten them all... yet. that's fine though.

Wish us luck that the tank remains peaceful.
chris

[superstein61]

Well, clown loaches aren't agressive to other bottom dwellers at all - and would make quick work of those snails. The problem is that they are best kept in groups of 3 or more - and they will outgrow - albeit slwoly - both your tanks.

If you had room to add 3 one inch clowns - I would say go for it. They grow slow and wouldn't really need to look for a home bigger than your 35 gallon for a couple of years.

Since you don't have room for 3 clowns - one loach to consider who could be kept alone is a Yo-Yo loach