Does your Kuhli Loach eat snails?

kompolina · Post by **kompolina** » Sun May 23, 2010 9:59 am

Yesterday I observed my kuhli eating а litle snail !
It's enthralling sight! Kuhli snaps snail's trunk, shakes head and... an empty shell falls on the ground, happy kuhli chewing.

Have you ever noticed your Kuhli Loach eating snails?

starsplitter7 · Post by **starsplitter7** » Sun May 23, 2010 11:11 am

I think my smaller snails might be eaten by Kuhlies, but I have other loaches who get to them first. I think my Kuhlies are addicted to shrimp pellets in any case.

plaalye · Post by **plaalye** » Sun May 23, 2010 11:54 am

I have never seen mine eat snails. I have suspected that they might eat the eggs, but recently the pond snail population exploded in their tank, so they're not having much effect.

kompolina · Post by **kompolina** » Sun May 23, 2010 12:08 pm

starsplitter7,

plaalye, yes, they are not effective snail-eaters, indeed.

But it's an interesting fact, that kuhli actually eat snails.

Thank you for the answers!

Diana · Post by **Diana** » Sun May 23, 2010 2:48 pm

I have indirect evidence that they might, but have not caught them in the act. However, tanks with Kuhlies seem to have a few adult snails, but almost no population increase.
I thought the Kuhlies were eating either the eggs or the tender baby snails, perhaps before the shells get too strong.
In these tanks there is rarely another snail eating fish, so the population control is highly likely from the Kuhlie Loaches.

My tank with Sids, though, has a great population of Rams Horn snails!

NancyD · Post by **NancyD** » Tue May 25, 2010 2:58 pm

I have a few pond snails in with mine but I never find eggs or baby snails

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