Tropical Fish Forums

[damo_araimbo]

Hi there -

I posted a similar question in another forum, but perhaps this is more appropriate here ... I had some snails in my old tank but when I added a betta and a silver shark, they all disappeared.. eaten I guess.. so I am wondering if anyone knows who the culprit was, as I have a new tank and I'm thinking of adding a betta, but I don't want my snails to get eaten again...

any advice would be appreciated..

[Flame Angel]

Out of those two, I'd say the silver shark ate them.
Also, clown loaches eat snails, but you don't have any of them do you?

[damo_araimbo]

no loaches.. so the sharks are known snail eaters are they? that's good news.. do you have experience of keeping betta's with small snails?

[Flame Angel]

Yeah I think, well I have seen my silver sharks eating snails.
No I haven't had experience with bettas and snails, but how big are the snails? Because bettas mouths are pretty small and I'm pretty sure that they won't eat them.

I'll try to find a link with some info for you.

*EDIT*
I have just found a nother site that says yoyo loaches are great snail eaters as well. None of them either?

**EDIT2**
No loaches at all? Looks like most loaches will eat snails, also some gouramis.

[damo_araimbo]

they are really small at this stage - they came on some plants I bought..

[Flame Angel]

If they are really small, without fully developed shells, I think anything with a mouth big enough would eat them untill they get bigger...
Still not sure if the fighters will eat them, anyone got a second opinion?

[Bob]

Silver Sharks are a shoaling fish (They are far happier in large groups), they can grow to well over a foot long.

A friend of mine just re-housed some of these FROM a 7ftx2ft tank as they were getting too large, they are not normally kept in tanks with Bettas.

What size tank are we talking about here?

Bob

[damo_araimbo]

I don't have any sharks.. that was an example from years ago....- I was thinking of putting a betta in my tank but I'm unsure if betta's eat snails........

my tank is 230 L with tetras (14 neon, 8 black phantom, 2 Lemon), 2 danios, 2 baby farlowellas & a couple of snails

[lenoirj]

I have witnessed my betta eat small snails if they are in his territory. When I say small I mean like the tiny ones, smaller than his mouth. He'll pluck them right off the glass if they in his corner. I have never seen him actually go and hunt for snails, though.