Snails

[Tiggle]

Hi

ive got a new tank that is two weeks into a fishless cycle. i added some plants over a week ago that i bought from my LFS, except now ive got lots of little snails. i havnt got any fish in the tank yet, so im not over feeding and the tank has yet to develope any alge and the snails appear to be eatting my plants though the numbers havnt got high enough to be doing any major damage yet.

i bought some snail control stuff today which contains coppersulphate. the plan was to dose the tank now, before i get any fish, then do a 100% water change and run the tank with carbon before adding fish when the cycle has finished.

my question is:
1. is it a good idea to use chemicals to kill snails
2. will dosing with copper sulphate affect my cycle?
3. will the copper sulphate affect my plants?

Thanks

 

[kenneth_kpe]

no its not really good to kill of using snailsides how big is your tank ? if it is large enough you could consider getting loaches

 

[Tiggle]

the tanks about 100L but my priority is to get my platties from my smaller over stocked tank into it before adding any other fish. how many loaches need to be kept and what volume do i need to accommodate them?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

im not sure about the minimum tank size needed by loaches, 100 liters is about 30 gallons right ? if the snail population is not so high yet and you are not feeding, try removing them whenever you see them, im guessing there isn't that much plants yet in your aquarium

 

[AndyTaylor]

Tank is probably a bit small for clown loachs anyway, i'm not sure about the othere types of loachs.....best thing is to remove the snails as you see them or get a snail trap from your LFS...
Avoid using chems if you can, i reckon...

 

[RYO]

Yoyo loach or Pakistani Loach (Botia almorhae ), botia angelicus , Dwarf Loach / Chained Loach (Botia sidthimunki) and Striped Loach / Zebra Loach / Thin Line Loach (Botia striata) are great snail removers and good community fish without the tank busting size of the clown.

 

[houndour]

I can vouch for botia striata. They are quite common and grow to 4 inches I think. I got 3 for my 20gallon and I haven't seen a snail since.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

dont forget to research first on the loach you are going to purchase and the inhabitants you are planning to put into the tank for example ... if your planning to get shrimps then loaching might not be a good idea (correct me if im wrong but loaches will eat shrimps right ? )

 

[RYO]

Good place to research is- http/www.loaches.com/

 

[oldwhitewood]

The loaches will go after the shrimp certainly, although the chain loach due to it's size may be ok with them. The best way to get rid of snails is just to keep relentlessly removing the buggers. I syphon mine through a tube when I'm doing water changes, smash them off the glass with an alage scraper or just remove them by hand. This is typically how I deal with ramshorn snails which I dont like, the other more common ones are ok as long as they dont get out of hand. You can crush them against the side of the glass to provide a tasty treat for your fish, not that I would ever do that.

I think the best way is to get a snail trap or simply put a bit of cucumber or lettuce in the tank on the bottom. After lights out the snails wont be able to resist this and will all congregate towards it at which stage you simply remove the veg and a large amount of snails.

 

[houndour]

my botia striata are about 2.5 inches long and they dont bother my 3 amano shrimp. Infact my shrimp don't care and even try and pinch the food the botia are eating.

Having 'been there, tried everything' with snails. I can't recommend botia enough as long as you have the room. And yes, do research them (some are more agressive than others). Don't buy any you're unsure about just because the staff say they stay small. Bear in mind that they also prefer to be kept in groups. I have 3 myself.

 

[Arfie]

Botia Dario or bengal loaches are excellent snail slaughterers I have 3 which were in my 10 gallon and were fine, never bothered any other residents including corys. I have moved them to my new 38 gallon and the 10 is now overrun with snails (in 3 weeks)

Arfie