Clown Loaches that Don't Eat Snails

Roan Art

Roan Art

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Oct 7, 2005
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About a week ago I was cleaning my 6g and while I was giving Buddha a soak in bleach to kill algae and snail eggs, I saw some snails riding the back of his head.

I figured I'd give my clown loaches a treat and throw them in my main tank.

One of the snails is naught but an empty shell now, but the other snail is cruising all over the tank having a grand old time.

It's not a big snail by any means. Just your typical little snail-found-on-Buddha's-head variety.

Are there snails they won't eat? It looks more like a ramshorn than a pond snail. Spiral shell, but sideways instead of going up.

Or are my clowns too well fed and just don't want to eat this snail?

Roan
 
The ramshorns have a harder shell, and have an operculum that they can pull over to cover their soft parts. Some fish can still eat them, but they tend to wait until they can grab a chunk of foot and suck the snail out rather than crunching the shell. But, in any case, it's likely that the clowns just aren't interested in the snail right now. It likely will end up being eaten, at some point.
 
OrionGirl said:
The ramshorns have a harder shell, and have an operculum that they can pull over to cover their soft parts. Some fish can still eat them, but they tend to wait until they can grab a chunk of foot and suck the snail out rather than crunching the shell. But, in any case, it's likely that the clowns just aren't interested in the snail right now. It likely will end up being eaten, at some point.
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Thanks, OG. I just hope they decide to eat it before it lays eggs all over the place :)

Roan
 
If it doesn't eat the parent what makes you think it would eat its offspring?

You could just pick it out of the tank, crush it, and throw it back in. Some fish is likely to eat it.
 
themadblimper said:
. . .You could just pick it out of the tank, crush it, and throw it back in. Some fish is likely to eat it.
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I know some people do that, but . . . it's kinda gross to me and it brings back a very bad memory that I will only share if someone wants me to. Ugh.

Roan
 
I crush snails all the time and feed them to my angels. They go nuts. Ever see an angelfish feeding frenzy with bits and pieces of snail(s) everywhere? Not a pretty sight, but watching the angels is quite comical.

And yes, please do share your tale of nastiness.
 
Same here, used to crush the snails on the glass and the fish would go mental...must be the smell of fresh flesh lol
 
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