Tropical Fish Forums

[padrecito]

I have three loaches in my planted 46 gallon aquarium. I have heard that loaches LOVE to eat snails, but my question is, will the smaller loaches that I have (striata & yoyo) attack larger snails like Mystery Snails, etc? I need some critters to help keep my plants and tank clean! Thanks!

[krt]

that's funny... I had the same setup for a while.... those loaches will eat any snail. I had a team of clown loaches kill and eat three large apple snails. it took them a while but they did it. I've taken to plucking the snails out of my other tanks and plopping them in w/ the loaches instead of just tossing them... I don't know much about the yoyos and striata but size doesn't seem to matter. if your looking for something to clean your tank, try shrimp... they may experiience the same fate as the snails but they won't eat your plants and tend to be cheaper to replace (I get a dozen for $2.50)

in short. bigger snail = bigger meal.

[spacecadet]

I just added 3 Botia Dario loaches to my 55 gallon planted tank teeming with snails about 3 weeks ago. They are only juveniles, maybe about half grown. I haven't seen them going after snails yet. They seem to just go right past them. Does the snail eating behavior come later when they get older?

They are really pretty and fun to watch. The tank is next to my bed so I watch till I drop off for a nap. They are not shy at all. One comes right up to the glass to watch me watching them. I wish now I had gotten a few more. I got them from Drs. F&S website because they had the ones I wanted. I might have to order another batch if these guys take care of the snails for me.

[krt]

if it is possible to feed your loaches less without starving them or other fish, they may begin to go after the snails.

I have found that putting a few "cheap" snails in w/ my loaches acts as an "automatic feeder" if I am going away for a few days. 99% of the time there will be a lot less snails when I get back. -of course these were clown loaches. I had (what I thought was) a burmese border loach (Botia kubotai -I think petsmart is wrong I think it was a Botia histrionica) and it took part in some snail hunts... although the only time I've actually seen them eat anything alive was when there were apple snails in the tank.

there are a lot of different loaches and I've been told that the species u both r talking about will eat snails.

[spacecadet]

I'm now training them by opening snails and then they go after them like crazy, and so do the cherry barbs. To sorta give them the taste for'em but still think they're to small to handle these snails by themselves right now.