zebra loach snail eradication [Archive]

fish23

12-14-2006, 9:09 AM

I have a planted 29g with a few rainbows and a pair of dwarf gouramis
also a 2" mystery snail. The problem is that along with some of the plants I got smaller varietys of snails that are becoming a bother. I was thinking of getting a zebra loach to eat the small snails (less than 1/4") that are taking over, the questions is will he eat the large and very cool mystery snail or will it stick to the smaller meals in the tank?

Cory Lover

12-14-2006, 10:16 AM

Hi,

I don't think the Zebra Loaches will eat your Mystery Snail.

Cory Lover

DaisyTattoo

12-14-2006, 10:26 AM

Sorry Cory, but I have to disagree. I have a 55G that has 2 zebra loaches and I tried to put a larger snail in there and they were ruthless about picking at it. I had to remove it. They will pick it to death and then eat it. I would seriously advise against putting a loach in there. I would put a peice of lettuce or some other veggie in the tank then turn out the lights. Wait a couple hours, then remove the veggie as there should be some snails on it. Repeat this process and you should dwindle the number down before too long. Also make sure you are not over feeding. Snails will thrive on extra food, but make sure that your mystery aka brig apple snail gets to eat, because they can starve to death.

fish23

12-14-2006, 10:33 AM

the mystery snail was supposed to be a brig but I think it might be a cana, in the last month he/she has gone from the size of large marble to the size of a golf ball its favorite pastime is pulling the hornwart from the substrate

DaisyTattoo

12-14-2006, 10:38 AM

I have brigs as well as cana's. Brigs can grow pretty quickly but they don't eat your plants, unless they are dead, so if it is eating live plants, then you probably do have a cana. Brigs will get golfball sized and can grow rather quickly if taken care of properly, but if it gets much bigger, then yes, I'm sure you have a cana. As long as your tank isn't planted, you will very much enjoy it. I LOVE my big cana, she is just beautiful and sooo funny.

Cory Lover

12-14-2006, 10:43 AM

Sorry Cory, but I have to disagree. I have a 55G that has 2 zebra loaches and I tried to put a larger snail in there and they were ruthless about picking at it. I had to remove it. They will pick it to death and then eat it. I would seriously advise against putting a loach in there. I would put a peice of lettuce or some other veggie in the tank then turn out the lights. Wait a couple hours, then remove the veggie as there should be some snails on it. Repeat this process and you should dwindle the number down before too long. Also make sure you are not over feeding. Snails will thrive on extra food, but make sure that your mystery aka brig apple snail gets to eat, because they can starve to death.

Hi,

Thanks for correcting me :).

Cory Lover

fish23

12-14-2006, 10:50 AM

the bothersome snails look like small ramshorns maybee? they never seem to get bigger than 1/4" they are a flat spiral that lays flat to the surface they are on, and are clear to pink-orange in coloration. Anyone know what they are?

DaisyTattoo

12-14-2006, 11:05 AM

Hi,

Thanks for correcting me :).

Cory Lover
No problem. I thought that the zebras would leave bigger snails alone as well. That's why I put one in the tank to test them, but unfortunately they we not very nice ;) oh well, lesson learned.

Fish, that does sound like ramshorns, but I would need a pic to be sure. If they are, then drop a peice of carrot in there. I boil mine until fairly soft. They will flock to this like crazy. Then they will be easy to pull out.