snail eating fish choices

[Maverick2007]

I agree with jpappy789,

I had a snail problem in a tank many years ago and I was able to catch most of them by placing a lettuce leaf after lights out and by morning voila like fly paper for snails....lol

Cheers

 

[Swayde]

My friend loaned me a small clown loach for a few days when I had a major snail population explosion (My hubby was caring for my fish for a week, came back to a tank overrun with pond snails and they were destroying my plants)...problem solved =) By the way I had tried the lettuce trick, no luck, and also tried cucumber and zucchini, again no luck. My son and I got tired of plucking them out with our hands, hence the borrowed clown loach.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Dwarf puffers are fresh not brackish. Khulie loaches might do okay but just so you know, snails aren't a problem. I have them in all my tanks and my fish live long healthy lives. By keeping the food supply limited in your tanks (ie feed only what the fish will eat and use a gravel vacuum weekly) then the snails will always be in low levels in the tank. In fact they are a far better algae eating choice for your tank than a pleco.

:iagree: Wholeheartedly. I have snails in all my tanks (2-3) and I think they add to the overall health of the tanks. The only place they are "out of control" is my invert tank where they're supposed to be breeding. Feed conservatively and you'll be fine without needing to add to the stocking. I also echo the comments of others in regards to the pleco. It will get way too big and even before that happens add too much to the bioload.

 

[nynikki]

:iagree: Wholeheartedly. I have snails in all my tanks (2-3) and I think they add to the overall health of the tanks. The only place they are "out of control" is my invert tank where they're supposed to be breeding. Feed conservatively and you'll be fine without needing to add to the stocking. I also echo the comments of others in regards to the pleco. It will get way too big and even before that happens add too much to the bioload.

But are they bad for the plants?

 

[EricaBernice]

I know that melafix kills snails. Some people use it as euthanasia when a snail is sick and dying. In very small amounts melafix simply makes the snail pass out for a while, but if you put the amount that is stated in the directions it does kill snails.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

But are they bad for the plants?

Depends on that type of snail I'm sure. I have Mystery Snails purposely and some pond snails accidentally and neither harm my plants. The pond snails stay in the gravel and I only really see them when I come accross them as I gravel vac, The MTS just cruise around looking for and eating algae.

 

[nynikki]

Good to know!

I know that melafix kills snails. Some people use it as euthanasia when a snail is sick and dying. In very small amounts melafix simply makes the snail pass out for a while, but if you put the amount that is stated in the directions it does kill snails.

Wow! That is good to know. I will be sure that if my fish get sick to look for other cures, I really love my Mystery snails and wouldn't want them to be accidentally killed.

 

[nynikki]

Also good to know!

Depends on that type of snail I'm sure. I have Mystery Snails purposely and some pond snails accidentally and neither harm my plants. The pond snails stay in the gravel and I only really see them when I come accross them as I gravel vac, The MTS just cruise around looking for and eating algae.

Thanks Hooked Newbie! It didn't seem like they were doing any damage, but I didn't want to wait and find out the hard way. I really planted the heck out of this tank and now that they are growing so well I may have overdone it :lipssealedsmilie: The fish seem to like it though! Lots of places to hide and swim through.