What loach should I get for snail control?
- Thread starter brett_93_ex
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That just means you are over feeding. My friend had gotten some ramshorn snails from my tank and I couldn't believe how many he had. 10 times more then I ever saw in my tank. I told him to cut down on the feedings and they slowly disappeared.
Best way to control snails is to not over feed. Snails are actually a good thing in moderate numbers.
You are correct in that I was overfeeding a bunch (which was not good) but who would want pond snails?
They still exist in significant numbers* but are not visible.
For some reason the Yoyos do not get after MTS until they get large and MTSs are wonderful things.
In addition some folks, such as I, believe that slight overfeeding in a community tank is appropriate.
TR
*Virtually imperceptible shells are present in the water in the Python suction line.
Lupin
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Pangios will not effectively eradicate the snails but you are buying the loaches for the wrong reasons. Snails aren't that bad. Simply control their population by manually removing them, crushing them for the fish to eat and controlling feeding rations.
Kuhlis are actually fine for a 30g. So are the sids at a group of 6-8. Sids are much more effective at consuming snails but also very expensive. I still wouldn't buy them for the sake of eliminating the snails.
Yasuhikotakia morleti will never work. They are very effective in consuming snails but the OP is planning to keep tetras. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of fish mangled with red streaks around their body, damaged fins and no eyes.
Unfortunately, the OP's tank is 30g so even a small group is too tight for it. Yoyos are by far one of the fastest growing botiine loaches.
You really can't keep one. They are sociable fish and therefore should not be deprived of their company. 3 is the minimum number although 5 is even better.
:iagree:
My yoyos were 2 inches when they ate all my MTS.
erv: I still regret at times not saving a few for all my loaches to eat.
Blue:My yoyos were 2 inches when they ate all my MTS.
I have no explanation.
I have three grown adults and every morning when I turn on the lights I observe many tiny MTSs. They are whitish when very young.
Several or many adults must be in the tank hidden from the Yoyos.
I keep plenty in my two 5G hexes just in case.
TR
I've read that Skunks can be quite a handful and somewhat aggressive, but I didn't know they were *that* bad.
MTS are better able to resist attack than mystery/pond snails due to 1) they have a bit of a trap door mechanism in that they can retreat pretty far into their shells and present a pretty tough foot surface to any invading mouth and 2) the toughness of their shells. These combine to allow them to get somewhat large before a determined loach can extract them from their shells.
MTS are better able to resist attack than mystery/pond snails due to 1) they have a bit of a trap door mechanism in that they can retreat pretty far into their shells and present a pretty tough foot surface to any invading mouth and 2) the toughness of their shells. These combine to allow them to get somewhat large before a determined loach can extract them from their shells.
Lupin
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Yoyos aren't as adept as most other loaches in grabbing snails burrowing under crevices to avoid predation. Their snouts aren't that elongated enough for such thing. If you compare them with tiger loaches, tiger loaches are even much more adept but the downside is that they are also very nasty fish so they're not considered as community fish.
I'd consider them worse than convicts, Squawkbert. They're far too troublesome unless their tankmates are able to defend themselves. Only best tankmates are the feisty barbs and other aggressive loaches such as the tigers.
