Loaches as Snail control

Fishlover888 · Post by **Fishlover888** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 1:18 pm

Hi, Newbie here.

I have some problems with snail in the tank. Got them from the plants I put in there.

Anyway, I wonder what would be the best loach to control snails in a discus tank? I tried yoyos, that did not work because they started to pick on my discus. Had to return them to the LFS.

I used to have clowns in the past (rainbows tank) and did not last due to some skin problem. Also I heard the clowns will grow too big.

What I'm looking for is some loaches that will eat snails and very peaceful towords other fish like discus, can live in soft acid water (pH 6.3) and high temp (83F to 86F) and stay relatively small (I only have about 15g of bio load left in the 125g tank since each adult discus needs about 10g of water)

I figure if anyone should know, it will be people like you here. Thanks in advance.

Fishlover888 · Post by **Fishlover888** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:05 pm

Any idea?

Fishlover888 · Post by **Fishlover888** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:44 am

Well, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HELP!

midman · Post by **midman** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:13 am

Despite your impatience

I would have thought the clown loaches would have been perfect. The yoyo's even more.

My Dad had a problem with snails and he put some plant food into the tank which was high in Iron content and this seemed to kill them off. I guess like the old penny in the tank trick, but without harming the fish.

Perhaps you could try that.

joitoy · Post by **joitoy** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:21 am

It's only been about a day since you posted.. a little patience goes a long way they're very nice about answering threads.

I wouldn't suggest clowns since they get so big and buying fish as short term solutions is a bad idea. Unless you have the funds to upgrade to a larger take in the future to accomodate a clown loach. They do better in schools of 3 or more.

I would try the plant food trick, or start feeding less. Apple snails will eat smaller snails, if the ones bothering you are tiny enough.

wasserscheu · Post by **wasserscheu** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:12 am

Hi, FL888,

... I´m only a guest in this very special forum... if it were my forum I, would "kick your ... " for your impatience! ... and most likely delete your posting!

... seroiusly now... I love loaches like others love their dog. Loaches as snail control is no good for me, as Loaches have needs that must be satisfied.

BUT perhaps you can combine the one with the other. Please check the species index (see link in header: "Loaches Online - Learn all about these aquarium fish!") if you want to provide the things that are recommended for loaches.

Some smaller Botias may eat snails, they may stay more in the bottom area, need lots of shelter... perhaps you work yourself a little into the info. provided ... and you will get support here.

... typically a combination with cichlids is not really recommended...

Good luck and return with questions that you don´t get answered in the data supplied in "Loaches Online - Learn all about these aquarium fish!"

Wolfram

grizzlyone · Post by **grizzlyone** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:41 am

I'm going to upload some videos to putfile, but I have zebras, yoyos and tigers in a tank and I have zero snail issues.

In fact, I have a five gallon that I keep just to breed snails. The videos I'm going to upload show me dropping about 10 snails (1/4 to 1/2 inch) and them lasting about 15 minutes. I had all three species fighting over who was going to extract the snails from their shells. None of the fish had any particular trouble getting the insides out and I have a bunch of empty snail shells to show for it....

Kevin

joitoy · Post by **joitoy** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:28 pm

I'd love to see that video! Have a friend giving me some rams that I may be breeding in the spare 20 gal cooler. Going to just put a submerse filter in it

Always wondered what it looks like to see the loaches sucking snails out of their shells and eating them.

grizzlyone · Post by **grizzlyone** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:14 pm

I go to my local petsmart about once every week or two and ask them for the snails make their way into the tanks or to bag them up for me when they clean and they are very obliging.

You see colonies on the vacation feeders that they stick in the tanks so that everyone gets some food.

The funniest thing I've seen is a tiger loach with picking up a snail and balancing it on its nose to extract the insides....its pretty hilarious.

Even the MTS snails that bury themselves during the day haven't managed to survive too long with my pigs...

Kevin

fishnose · Post by **fishnose** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:31 pm

Hi Fishlover888. Zebra or yoyo loaches would problably be the best bet, but with only 15 gallons to spare, it would be hard to provide the necesary small groups. Another option would be sids, they would do best in the soft, acidic water, and are the smallest of the three but with all three, the temperature being that high could be a problem.

more info on zebras: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-striata

Yoyos: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-almorhae

sidthimunki: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/ya ... idthimunki

Fishlover888 · Post by **Fishlover888** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:22 pm

Thanks for the help.

Not so sure what to do yet. I tried zebras and yoyos, they did not work out because after a while, they start to pick on my discus. Had to return them to the shop.

Not sure about teh Sids. I don't see them at my LFS. I checked the information and it is endangered in the wild. Not so sure if I can have them in USA.

Maybe I will work out a deal wit my LFS to have the clowns and return them when they get bigger in exchange for smaller ones.

gorhaf · Post by **gorhaf** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:46 pm

on this same topic i have 3 gold dojos in a tank with 2 blue snails 1" almost. and they seem to leave them alone exept when the snails reproduce they go bad sh*t nuts trying to get all of the snail eggs floating on top of the water. my question is will the dojos eat the adult snails once they get bigger the biggest one is only almost 4' long.

thanks

fishnose · Post by **fishnose** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:55 am

dojo loaches aren't known for eating snails like botiine loaches are, but they might.

How many zebra/yoyos did you get, Fishlover888? In a group of around 4 or 5 they should pick on eachother and leave the other fish in the tank alone. I forgot to add- many loaches would view your bamboo shrimp as tasty snacks so be careful.

Fishlover888 · Post by **Fishlover888** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 1:46 pm

I had three yoyos. The first week was fine. After a while, two of them started to pick on my discus. Had to take these two back. Then the 3rd one two weeks later started doing the same. Had to take it back too.

I had one zebra in the past (did not know then need to be at least 3

). It was OK for a long time till it was bit big. It then started to chase my discus too. Had to give it back to the LFS for free.

I just don't want to take any chance with yoyos or zebras sine they are relly hard to catch in the 125 g tank.

I was hoping people here have better options than yoyos or zebras.

mikev · Post by **mikev** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 1:52 pm

The chances are that if you had 5 of either kind, they would have spend their energy between themselves....for non-aggressive botia's, 5 is really the smallest number, not 3.

But since you really don't want loaches, only snail removal, why not use chemicals?

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