best snail eating loach

[lymabean]

I have snails in my tank. They haven't taken over, but if worse comes to worse, I'd get a loach. I have a 20g and was wondering what small species of loach would you reccomend? I like the clown loach, only they get like 1 foot long! I'm looking for something around 2-5 inches.

 

[toddnbecka]

Personally, I'd recommend something to eat some of the molly and platy fry before they grow much larger. :naughty: Snails can be kept under control by careful attention to feeding to fish so that there isn't much left over. You really don't have stocking space for loaches, and most species are social. A single loach will become a real problem, harassing and sometimes even killing other fish w/out others of their own species to interact with.
The smallest species are not commonly available since they're all wild-caught and subject to seasonal collection/availability. Yoyo's are a fairly common, inexpensive variety, and would be good for snail control.
You'd really be better off feeding very little food, and adding a few more cory's to keep the one you already have happy.

 

[Jayhawk]

The best snail eating loaches are the botia related species (clown - but they get way too big, skunk - right size, bad attitude in a 20 gallon tank, they need more space to spread the aggression out, etc.).

I'd not do any loaches - Snails aren't bad and as mentioned above, if you have too many, you're feeding too much. Let the snails clean up your tank - they eat food that falls to bottom, algae and aerate your substrate as well.

Eric

 

[jones57742]

In one word (based on my experience) Yoyo.

TR

 

[Lupin]

The best snail eating loaches are the botia related species (clown - but they get way too big, skunk - right size, bad attitude in a 20 gallon tank, they need more space to spread the aggression out, etc.).

I'd not do any loaches - Snails aren't bad and as mentioned above, if you have too many, you're feeding too much. Let the snails clean up your tank - they eat food that falls to bottom, algae and aerate your substrate as well.

Eric

I like your advice.

 

[theotheragentm]

Getting a fish to take care of your snails is a bad idea. Fish that control a snail population, destroy a snail population. You will end up having to care for the fish and finding it other food sources. Even though there are smaller loaches, you are going to need to keep a school ideally as they are schooling fish. There isn't enough room unfortunately. I would go the snail trap method.

Put a piece of lettuce in the tank at night after lights out. Tie a weight if it won't sink. Pull the lettuce out in the morning. It should have a number of snails come with it.

You can also take a small container, put some food in it, poke a hole in the lid, and the snails will go in and some will not come out. Pull the container out and toss the snails.

 

[jones57742]

Folks

Please note that I did not pick up on the 20G

I generally agree with theotheragentm but several comments (and my comments are based on a 110G tank).

Background

I received my gift of the pesky little devil variety snails in purchased plants.

I first noticed several on the walls of the tank.
(I now believe that at that point in time I could have controlled their population via manual removal).

I did not believe that these few would be a problem (note that I said observed as at that time I did not realize what I was dealing with).

Virtually before I knew it these snails were all over the plants and walls as well as their egg sacks and the density was such that viewing the interior of the tank was not possible.

Getting a fish to take care of your snails is a bad idea.

My procurement of seven juvie Yoyos was first class as within several weeks no snails could be observed.

Fish that control a snail population, destroy a snail population.

Not in my experience.

When I vacuum the tank floor most of the detritus is very small snail shells.

These little devils are still present in the tank but are too small to be observable and/or hidden under plant leaves, in holes in rocks, wood, etc.

You will end up having to care for the fish and finding it other food sources.

Absolutely but my Yoyo's are, IMHO, very pretty fish.

Even though there are smaller loaches, you are going to need to keep a school ideally as they are schooling fish.

Yes.

I started with seven juvies but due to a real bad episode with sudden death syndrome of my bottom dwellers I lost four when they had grown to adult size.

The remaining three still run, jump and play with each other as well as occasionally with my sterbai but more often with my SAE's.

I absolutely do not recommend purchasing only three Yoyos as mine were raised together as well as with the sterbai and the SAE's from juvies as under typical conditions I believe that five is a minimum number and seven a preferable number.

There isn't enough room unfortunately. I would go the snail trap method.

As I indicated previously I absolutely agree as I did not pick up on the 20G for the loaches and, although I have never used trap methods, I believe that those set forth by theotherarentm will function very well.

TR

 

[J double R]

There is no need to add to the bioload of a tank that's obviously going to have QUITE the bioload (when those 20 little babies grow up) just to get rid of something that's causing no harm to begin with.

check the amount you feed, that will curb the snail population.

 

[jones57742]

... check the amount you feed, that will curb the snail population.

JDR

In my post I should have set forth that this just flat did not work for me although you logic is undeniable.

TR

 

[Mgamer20o0]

bait and catch them your self.