Need some advice

[Lakota]

Hi, I have a delimma, I have a snail infestation, believe it's screwing up my water quality, I want a clown loach or something to eat them. I just can't bring myself to kill them myself. They might as well be someones treat Anyway, I have a 29 gallon tall, with a chocolate pleco, three cory cats, guppies, platies, swordtails, and a striped raphael. Now, would I have problems with the current fish I have and clowns?? I heard that they can be quite aggressive and I'm pretty protective of my fishies

If not a clown loach(I know this question has been asked a thousand times to bear with me) is there any other more community type fish that will eat my snails and not hurt my present fish?? Any help will be appreciated.. Thank you

Lakota

 

[rohnds]

I read an article on how to get rid of snails without snail-eatinf fish or chemicals. The article suggested placing a suacer on the gravel about 30min after your turn the lights off. Places catfish tablet and placed the other saucer on top of it, proped up with a small stone so that there is an opening. During the night snails will crawl in between the saucers. In the morning close the suacers together and removed the trappedd snails.

I couldn't tell if this really works since I have never tried it.

Rohn

 

[reiverix]

Clown loaches would get too big for your tank anyway. There are smaller species of loach but some of them can be quite nippy to other fish. My skunk botias go crazy for snails but I wouldn't put them in a community tank. I do occassionaly crush a snail against the glass as a treat for the corys. They can't get at live snails but when it's missing it's shell....you get the picture.

You can do the saucer trick. I've heard it works quite well. A bit of lettuce in your tank should also attrack the snails to it.

 

[RTR]

I think that you may be mistaking a symptom for a cause. It is more likely that a snail population is reacting to an over-feeding or inappropriate feeding situation and multiplying to excessive numbers, or in response to a situation of insufficient upkeep than that they are causing the situation.

I have snails in all of my tanks where they can survive (obviously not in the puffer tanks and certain cichlid tanks), and they are present in fairly small numbers.

http://www.aquasource.org/CMS/modul...ns&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=58&page=1

HTH

 

[Dangerdoll]

I agree with RTR. I think you should cut back on the feedings, the snails are obviously thriving from it. Some snails are ok but when it gets out of control, it's usually due to too much food/proteins.

 

[TKOS]

Another agreement with RTR. I keep snails in all of my tanks. They do not foul up water and produce very little waste by themsleves. But if I do not prune my plants regularly and let a water change go too long the snail population tends to grow quickly. Weekly water changes, reduced feeding and a good gravel vacuum everytime you change the water is the best idea. Crushing the snails and letting the other fish eat them also works well.