- Sep 21, 2006
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Never have we imagine one day, our beloved snails would make a surprising twist in the food chain. It has been a popular belief that all loaches (quite a blanket statement actually) can eat snails but only a few of those do not and this includes the species of serpentine form such as the kuhli loaches (Pangio spp.) and dojo loaches (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus). As I had repeated along with those who took the time to observe and study their body anatomy, dojos and kuhlis are not capable of predatory behavior against the snails unless they have been starved to death in which case they will try desperately to eat the snails although in some cases, they simply die of starvation.
A surprising twist however has been proven as Mother Nature allowed it.I did quite an intensive research on apple snails back when I had no Pomacea diffusa (formerly Pomacea bridgesii) yet. This is how I am before I get a specimen I never had before. While researching in applesnail.net, I noticed quite a few shocking stories about the snails of the canaliculata complex having the predatory instincts to go after a healthy fish and even other snails themselves. One of them: http://www.applesnail.net/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13134. I chose however not to believe what I just had read as I did not want to think my own canas would behave like one, one day. They were kept in my 15g with the kuhlis and dojos there temporarily while awaiting new tank orders to accommodate everyone. The setup itself has been maintained well and filtration maximized. The water has been changed as often as possible to cope with the bioload due to my refusal to mix the canas and the P. diffusa owing to the canas' ability to outcompete the latter for food. To top it all, the snails were never exactly fed with any meat which as advised against by Donya Quick of applesnail.net, could increase their predatory instincts. I heeded her warning as a precaution because I don't want to be surprised to see them happily munching a fish alive. They only get commercial pellets, vegetable matter, extra aquarium plants, snail jello and calcium pills.
Well, I was really proven wrong. The canas went straight for my loaches. I only discovered them missing yesterday while I was petting one of the adults whom I noticed seemed to have gained a growth spurt. Some babies look like Christmas just arrived so I became suspicious why they seem to have grown a bit quickly and looked everywhere for my fish but they just disappeared without a trace and no, they cannot escape as the tank itself has been sealed to avoid the snails from even escaping out of it and proceed to my other tanks.
A few days ago, the loaches seemed restless but I thought they were only doing the loachy dance and satisfied with their environment so this explained their mysterious disappearance. They seem to have a premonition someone is going to eat them. There is no doubt this particular species of snail is quite adept in hunting their prey. Given their enormous size and ability to eat anything in their path, they are able to eat a healthy fish that is unable to defend itself from possible attacks. The snail will first climb on anything and then falls right on its target with increasing speed, thanks to their weight. This behavior is coined as 'parasnailing'. They then latch on their prey and eat it alive with their rough radula (rasping tongue).
All snails of the canaliculata complex have been reported to instill this kind of unusual behavior. Whether this does happen in the wild or not, it is still likely one of the many reasons why these species are banned and why some native flora and fauna have been greatly displaced. A prime example would be the mysterious disappearance of Pila conica here in the Philippines. In connection with the previous reports of the snails of the canaliculata complex consuming other snails, the P. conica may have been displaced in a similar fashion however hopes are increasing as these native black apple snails have been found in remote areas where the canas have not invaded yet. This is not unusual with the P. insularum which according to Donya, happened to be the most violent species. Insularums are larger than the canas and are of canaliculata complex so there is no doubt if the canas can eat a healthy fish, the insularums can do even better.
The Pomacea diffusa, on the other hand, are primarily scavengers so there is no reason to fear they will undergo the same unusual behavior. They do not look for prey for food. Most of them simply die from starvation rather than look for other opportunities. All the same, you are not encouraged to feed them meaty foods as this may trigger them to behave unusually for what they are.
Lesson learned...Never doubt a living creature for its capabilities. One day, they might just surprise you. Better be safe than sorry. I really feel sorrier than ever that I lost my remaining kuhli loaches and lone dojo.
A surprising twist however has been proven as Mother Nature allowed it.I did quite an intensive research on apple snails back when I had no Pomacea diffusa (formerly Pomacea bridgesii) yet. This is how I am before I get a specimen I never had before. While researching in applesnail.net, I noticed quite a few shocking stories about the snails of the canaliculata complex having the predatory instincts to go after a healthy fish and even other snails themselves. One of them: http://www.applesnail.net/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13134. I chose however not to believe what I just had read as I did not want to think my own canas would behave like one, one day. They were kept in my 15g with the kuhlis and dojos there temporarily while awaiting new tank orders to accommodate everyone. The setup itself has been maintained well and filtration maximized. The water has been changed as often as possible to cope with the bioload due to my refusal to mix the canas and the P. diffusa owing to the canas' ability to outcompete the latter for food. To top it all, the snails were never exactly fed with any meat which as advised against by Donya Quick of applesnail.net, could increase their predatory instincts. I heeded her warning as a precaution because I don't want to be surprised to see them happily munching a fish alive. They only get commercial pellets, vegetable matter, extra aquarium plants, snail jello and calcium pills.
Well, I was really proven wrong. The canas went straight for my loaches. I only discovered them missing yesterday while I was petting one of the adults whom I noticed seemed to have gained a growth spurt. Some babies look like Christmas just arrived so I became suspicious why they seem to have grown a bit quickly and looked everywhere for my fish but they just disappeared without a trace and no, they cannot escape as the tank itself has been sealed to avoid the snails from even escaping out of it and proceed to my other tanks.
A few days ago, the loaches seemed restless but I thought they were only doing the loachy dance and satisfied with their environment so this explained their mysterious disappearance. They seem to have a premonition someone is going to eat them. There is no doubt this particular species of snail is quite adept in hunting their prey. Given their enormous size and ability to eat anything in their path, they are able to eat a healthy fish that is unable to defend itself from possible attacks. The snail will first climb on anything and then falls right on its target with increasing speed, thanks to their weight. This behavior is coined as 'parasnailing'. They then latch on their prey and eat it alive with their rough radula (rasping tongue).
All snails of the canaliculata complex have been reported to instill this kind of unusual behavior. Whether this does happen in the wild or not, it is still likely one of the many reasons why these species are banned and why some native flora and fauna have been greatly displaced. A prime example would be the mysterious disappearance of Pila conica here in the Philippines. In connection with the previous reports of the snails of the canaliculata complex consuming other snails, the P. conica may have been displaced in a similar fashion however hopes are increasing as these native black apple snails have been found in remote areas where the canas have not invaded yet. This is not unusual with the P. insularum which according to Donya, happened to be the most violent species. Insularums are larger than the canas and are of canaliculata complex so there is no doubt if the canas can eat a healthy fish, the insularums can do even better.
The Pomacea diffusa, on the other hand, are primarily scavengers so there is no reason to fear they will undergo the same unusual behavior. They do not look for prey for food. Most of them simply die from starvation rather than look for other opportunities. All the same, you are not encouraged to feed them meaty foods as this may trigger them to behave unusually for what they are.
Lesson learned...Never doubt a living creature for its capabilities. One day, they might just surprise you. Better be safe than sorry. I really feel sorrier than ever that I lost my remaining kuhli loaches and lone dojo.
