Black Widow Tetra

[daffer]

Hi all
I have 3 zebra loach which I introduced to my tank about three months ago to try and control the snail population but they never made any impact. however since introducing 6 black widow tetra a fortnight ago it’s a job to find a snail at all, and I have observed a couple of the tetra’s plucking a small snail of the plants and apparently sucking them like you would a sherbet lemon they spit it out and then suck it again several times presumably to get what’s inside the shell? are they known as snail eaters or has anyone else had any experiences like this your thoughts gratefully excepted.
John

 

[MonsterFish]

Bump! I'd be fascinated to hear replies here too as I have never heard of this behaviour from black widows. Very interesting.

 

[black angel]

I havent noticed my black widows doing it but i must say its the only tank without pest snails in it.

 

[daffer]

I have just seen one doing it again they are defiantly sucking the insides out of the shell and then dumping the shell

 

[Chri$]

Never seen my Black Widows doing that but i havn't seen any snails in a while come to think of it!