Yoyo loach as snail control.

[noble]

I am sick of these snails in my tank! No matter how many I pull out there's a hundred more the next day. So I was thinking of getting a single yoyo to drop in my 5.5g tank to get rid of them and after it's clean move him into my bigger tank with a couple of friends. My only problem is.... Is he going to munch all my cherry shrimp? I can move them out so he can do his thing but I'd rather not.

 

[jpappy789]

I've never personally mixed yoyos and shrimp but most likely young ones will be eaten at the very least. Please don't get a fish just to do a job...

How are you removing them? How often and what are you feeding? What is your maintenance like?

If you are too add anything, consider assassin snails.

 

[noble]

i cant find assassins here in australia. at the moment im sucking them out when i gravel vac and netting them out when i see them floating around. i feed the tank once every 2 or 3 days and im doing a pwc every 2 or 3 days just to keep the water good for when the berried shrimp hatch.

 

[jpappy789]

Try baiting them with some veggies instead.

 

[iheartbettas]

if the tank is just 5.5 gallons, why not just clean out the tank real good, dry it out really good, and set up your shrimp tank or whatever it is again. the snails probably won't survive that procedure.

 

[AlyssaKay]

IMX, the best fish to do the job is a skunk botia or a clown loach - get them as babies - 4 or 5, and they will wipe out ANY snail infestation. However it can take a while and they can target other things like fry or shrimp (although the snails are their FAV food ever) and they will need to be sure to get any baby snails (live bearing snails can take the longest). If you want to go this route, I'd set up a temp bowl or tank for the shrimp just to be safe - or just do a cleaning, but if they are a live bearing snail - ANY water from the old tank can harbor snails to restart the infestation though it will take a while for them to grow big enough for you to see.

 

[DLV082]

I wouldn't use clowns in a 5.5 gal tank even as babies they would be cramped. I know snails can be frustrating but the clean out of the tank sounds like a better option.

 

[Jeremy Smith]

Tank is way to small to use loaches for snail controll, a loach large enough to do the job would not have enough room to swim. Not to mention they should always be in a group.