Snail-Eating Fish?

[minnnt]

If you are going to purchase an Assasin Snail then don't take the Pest Snails out. It will give them something to do. lol.

Welcome to the wonderful world of fish... and snails in your case. Welcome to the forum too

 

[sylros]

You don't say what size your tank is but I'm willing to bet it isn't big enough for any snail eating loaches.

People often suggest clown loaches, but these need to live in groups of 6+ and need a 6ft+ tank as they grow enormous.

Zebra loaches also need to be in groups 6+ and while they stay a little bit smaller a group still needs a tank about 5ft.

The best solution is you. If you don't want to remove them yourself, try this:

Don't feed the tank for a couple of days.
Sink a piece of lettuce in the tank at night.
Remove snail-covered lettuce in the morning.
Repeat until they're gone.

A couple of snails isn't a problem. They become a problem if they find plenty of excess food, from you overfeeding the tank.

Another solution to pest snails is to add an assassin snail. This eats other snails and can help keep the population down.

Please don't add a fish to solve a problem you can solve yourself.

I've tried what was suggested above, and that didn't work. In my planted tank, why would a snail go for a lettuce leaf if it already has plants they like...unless i used the wrong type of lettuce - iceburg lettuce was used. My lfs suggested to put an algae pellet under a small clear container which is to stop the other fish to eat it. Apparently, the snails will go for it, cover the container - all you have to do is remove the container. I haven't tried it yet but i will.

I also inquired about the various loaches...there is one that is not mentioned here, it's the weather loach. Definitely not as pretty but you don't need a whole bunch, and can be in a smaller tank. Since I've had them, the snail population has been greatly diminished...only the big ones remains and those I remove by hand. Here's a link: http/www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=weather%20loaches&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.loaches.com%2Fspecies-index%2Fweather-loach-misgurnis-anguillicaudatus&ei=USrRTo_mHMHV0QHG9Nj7Dw&usg=AFQjCNGjDM0uqfoIZ-FLs2loDwncxrxDtQ&cad=rja

If you are going to purchase an Assasin Snail then don't take the Pest Snails out. It will give them something to do. lol.

Welcome to the wonderful world of fish... and snails in your case. Welcome to the forum too

Apparently, they wouldn't do the job anyway as they only eat the soft parts and leave the shell. This could play havock with the calcium over time. My lfs much preferred squeezing them in the tank which he proceeded in demonstrating, it's like caviar for the fish. I'm sorry but squishing snails is just not my thing.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Apparently, they wouldn't do the job anyway as they only eat the soft parts and leave the shell. This could play havock with the calcium over time. My lfs much preferred squeezing them in the tank which he proceeded in demonstrating, it's like caviar for the fish. I'm sorry but squishing snails is just not my thing.

The calcium that the snails get to make their shells come from your water, so it isn't a big thing. Either way, the calcium is already in the tank, so if they leave the shell, the calcium will go back into the water. I wouldn't worry about that part of it, so much.

 

[fluttermoth]

Weather loach can get to nearly a foot long too...they're also not really comfortable at tropical temperatures.

 

[sylros]

Weather loach can get to nearly a foot long too...they're also not really comfortable at tropical temperatures.

Well, I looked them up and they're a pretty adaptable fish. Their temp range is from 50-77. The higher range is still safe for the rest of my fish although not recommended (shortens lifespan). As for it's size, 12 inch is in the wild, I was assured that it would only get 5-6in, and that they took a very long time to grow anyway and a pair was sufficient. They seemed to fit in quite well, but they do need a sandy bottom as they like to hide in it, as well as bogwood/roots, or places to hide, all in a planted tank. Those criteria are met with my tank.

Apparently, they wouldn't do the job anyway as they only eat the soft parts and leave the shell. This could play havock with the calcium over time. My lfs much preferred squeezing them in the tank which he proceeded in demonstrating, it's like caviar for the fish. I'm sorry but squishing snails is just not my thing.

The calcium that the snails get to make their shells come from your water, so it isn't a big thing. Either way, the calcium is already in the tank, so if they leave the shell, the calcium will go back into the water. I wouldn't worry about that part of it, so much.

i agree with you there, didn't think it was going to make a big difference. Thanks for confirming that.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Weather Loaches do best at sub-tropical temps in the 18-22C ballpark, my seven (they are very social fish that need a group) very quickly grew from ~8cm to ~18cm in less than a year before I rehomed them from a 5x2x2 tank back in September (they have enormous appetites which put a big strain on even the biggest external filters). While they loved to spend the day burrowed in the soft sand in shady spots, at night I used to watch them do laps of the tank midwater against the glass, munching down any Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets missed by the other fish. As for their snail eating, my Lionhead Cichlids easily eat more of them, something which shocked me when I saw one attack one of my Rabbit Snail's attenae (and then promptly move all the snails to another tank).