Hey
been looking around for a desant fish to kill snails for my tank, i came to the conclusion of a dwarf loach/chain loach but didnt know if i could buy them in the uk

I hope i can - Titch

yup they are available in the UK

Yep, but they (Botia sidthimunki (sp) if these are the ones you mean) are quite pricey.

there the ones - how pricy?

Can't remember how much they are in my lfs but on trimar they are listed at £6.50 each, which is alot for a fish that doesn't get past 1". Plus I'm pretty sure they need to be kept in groups of 3+ so you're paying around £20 at least.

They are quite rare 'in the trade' I think.

so then - what fish are the ones in the pic at bottum off your mesage, and do they eat snails?

they are bristlenose plecs and no they will not eat snails. What size tank do you have?

The cheapest way to cut down your snail population is to cut back on feeding so that no waste is left for the snails to eat, this also includes clearing up plant debris. If there isn't so much food then they won't breed as much. And just do regular snail-picking sessions, just pick out any you see. You can also drop a weighted down lettuce leaf in there one evening and in the morning it (should) be covered in snails, so lift it out and chuck it out.

75 litre tank - it seems all fish that do the job well wont fit.

The Dwarf Chain Loach (Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki) formally known as Botia Sidthimunki grows to 2.5" and occasionally comes up for sale in lfs, mine in Luton had a tank full not too long back, I wish I had bought some then. I'm pretty sure that I saw some at Maidenhead Aquatics in St Albans recently ... they were about £3.50.

Fish prices seem to vary enormously, I used to buy my Otos from my lfs at £3.50, they've now put them up to £4.50 but at MA in St Albans £1.50 and cheaper still if bought in 5's.

Unless T1tch has them in their lfs then they may have to resort to a mail order co. like trimar. They do seem pricey whenever I see them. Great fish though.