Snail Eaters?

[ShinySideUp]

How about loaches half the size of the Zebra Loach if that?

There are two species becoming more and more availeable now, dont assume by their small size that they wont eat snails, if anything i think they eat far more snails!

-Rosy Loach Tuberoschistura arakanensis
http/www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=rosy+loach&hl=en&biw=1059&bih=607&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=nKY-NsRnK51MaM:&imgrefurl=http/www.loaches.com/species-index/tuberoschistura-arakanensis&docid=_S5ueDVRY_LE9M&imgurl=http/www.loaches.com/species-index/photos/t/tuberoschistura_arakenensis_06.jpg/image_preview&w=400&h=213&ei=sMA1T_TmBofS0QXYi-GZAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=69&vpy=160&dur=86&hovh=164&hovw=308&tx=171&ty=93&sig=103349512573384008980&page=1&tbnh=90&tbnw=169&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
-Laos Multibar Loach Yunnanilus cruciatus
http/www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=laos+multibar+loach&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&gbv=2&biw=1059&bih=607&tbm=isch&tbnid=3Gx7Cb_QsGOp1M:&imgrefurl=http/www.loaches.com/species-index/yunnanilus-cruciatus&docid=Iqmz8G3QCRD0mM&imgurl=http/www.loaches.com/species-index/photos/y/Yunnanilus_cruciatus_01.jpg/image_medium&w=600&h=357&ei=PME1T_LYKKqs0QXW082cAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=74&vpy=148&dur=217&hovh=173&hovw=291&tx=106&ty=72&sig=103349512573384008980&page=1&tbnh=97&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Both are amazing species though tend to look awful in stockists tanks, takes a bit of good feeding and peace and quiet to get them looking how they should! The rosy loaches colour up like cherry barbs, the males red and the females a more brown colour.

Id be surprised to see either species get more than 3-4cm max which is about half the size of the Botia Striate. I would however get about 6 as they are a very shy fish...

The Rosy loach seem to like harder water and a higher pH than my water can provide so probably no good for my tank. However the second one looks promising depending on availability.

Of course it's your tank and up to you, as we all have different opinions on stocking levels, but my five lived in a 3'/100l with a dozen tiger barbs (and a clown plec) for six or seven years and they were absolutely fine and are all still alive now

I really do like the look of the Zebra loach and I do love loaches generally (as you can see by my sigpic so I think I'll do more study of these little beasties and look to getting a few.