2 problems

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JP457

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Nov 30, 2002
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Prob # 1
My 46 galon is having some algae issues. There is none floating around just the regular crust stuff that grows on the sides of the tank. To solve this, I wanted to get either one or a few Apple snails. My questions are: Will the snails eat my plants? and Will they breed and take over?

Prob # 2
In the same tank, I have 2 3 spot gouramis. One is a male and the other is a female. I just got them over the weekend and at first everything was great but now the male chases the female all the time. He goes nuts when she tries to eat and has been harassing her more and more when she is just swimming. Any ideas on what to do?
 
Never dealt with "wanted" snails, so I can't help you with issue #1.

As for the gouramis, the only real way to get them to not fight is to separate them. They could just be sorting out a pecking order, so give it time before you take action. Just don't let the male do any serious damage...keep an eye on them and see if the situation improves any.
 
I could help you with problem number 1. I have never dealt with apple snails but to control algae. But i would recommend one or two small pleco. The only problem with pleco is then the get bigger that make quite a big mess, but I have found that they work great at keeping the tank clean.
 
Ill wait it out on the gouramis as there has been no damage done so far. The reason I wanted apple snails is that I have had a pleco before and I hated it. I never saw the thing and it made a mess of the whole tank. Its just too much waste. The other reason I thought of snails is that I use MTS to controll algae in my smaller tanks. I just dont want the bigger tank overrun.
 
Snails will probably eat the plants in favour of algae..., There is a number of small algae eating fish species as well as several smaller Pleco's which would suit your tank well but what is in it other than the gouramies...

As with the gourami behaviour you are experiencing, this is normal and if you are not careful he can really stress the female. A ratio of 2 females to 1 male is typically recommended with gouramies, though that depends on many factors. If you don't intend to breed them then my other suggestion would be to exchange the male for a female which tend to be much calmer and less likely to fight... Be also aware that a male gourami can be rather annoying to other species in the tank specially at feeding times (and they are very capable of injuring fish)
 
Apple snails are known eaters of plants... at least in North America. I have heard of some accounts of snails looking like apple snails (not sure if they are) in Europe that have been in plant tanks with no problems... not sure if i'd risk it though.

Instead of running off and getting a fish to "solve" your algae problem, it is always best to combat the problem from its root... not its result (the algae). Fixing the problem from its source will not only improve the look of your tank (little detectable algae), its much easier on your bio filters. I suggest nutrient, light and CO2 balance first, livestock next, and as a super duper last ditch effort... chemicals.

If you can give us the specs on your plant tank (lighting, nitrate levels, pH, kh, etc.) we can help you eliminate the problem from its source.

Moving this to Aquatic plants.

HTH
-Richer
 
This is the typical behavior of gouramis. I have a male and female pearl pair in my tank with the same result. Give her as many plants as possible, also floating plants, and he'll chase her, but the attacks should calm down quite a bit.
Len
 
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