Clown Loaches....

[fluffycabbage]

Do i buy some clown loaches?
I have quite a bad trumpet snail problem in my tanks, and need to get rid. Ive picking them out but theyre repoducing at an alarming rate! I had a chat with the guy at MA who recommended clown loaches as they eat not only the snails but the eggs (or whatever they are) too. Trouble is we have some zebra nerites too, so we have to be careful. I can put them in the 80l tank while the loaches kill the snails in the 180l, then put the nerites back in the 180 while the 80l is sorted out, then put the loaches back in the 180, leave the nerites in the 80l, and hope the pests dont come back in there.
Does that sound like too much for the clown loaches? Would it stress them out changing tanks like that over a period of weeks?
(just so you know, MA said they'd take back any clown loaches which get too big for the tank and either exchange them for smaller ones or just take them in, so theres no probs there.)

Any advice? Need this problem sorting asap!

 

[Verminator89]

I wouldnt recommend clown loach as a cure for pest snails. Yes they do eat snails, and yes they are effective, once they suss out to eat the snails. However they are potentially monster fish. Easiy reaching 12" and often bigger. I'd suggest finding an atlernative solution.

Clown loach are certainly to small for a 180L long term, they aught not be sold in the hobby IMO.

 

[fluffycabbage]

yes i know their potential size, which is why it was offered to take them back. hmmmm. what would you suggest then? i'd rather not use chemical treatments but will if necessary. assassin snails? puffers?

 

[Carlovel1]

Other loaches like Dwarf , Yoyo or Zebra Loach would be better

 

[simonas]

IClown loach are certainly to small for a 180L long term, they aught not be sold in the hobby IMO.

really the same could be said for a lot of larger fish then?

In my opinion clown loach don;t do a great deal of snail eating anyway. don;t snails indicate a high nitrate problem or something to that effect?

 

[filterman]

Clown loaches are not too small for any tank provided they have grown to an appropriate size. They only reach 12" in huge well maintained tanks are are usually closer to 7 " in captivity. They are not that agressive but don't take any s***t from anything. They are basically good guys with flick knives (under their eyes) and I have one which I've owned for 28 years. As regards snails, they need hard water to grow their shells so decide on what type of fish/water you want (soft or hard)and take it from there.

 

[drobbyb]

If you have snails that keep on multiplying, you are most likely overfeeding. If you get rid of the extra food, the snails can't reproduce. I realize that some snails will eat algae, but when compared to the rich foods that we feed our fish, I am sure that algae alone won't sustain several hundred snails. You can weight down a leaf of lettuce and leave it in the tank overnight. In the morning, remove the lettuce leaf with all the snails on it to put a dent in their population and feed less. Most fish only need to be fed once a day with a rest (skip feeding for a day or two a week). Fish are cold blooded animals and they don't need near as much food as a warm blooded creature. In fact, you can skip feeding for two weeks and your fish will be totally fine. Try that with a mammal and you get bad results! If you are feeding and food reaches the gravel, you are feeding too much. Feed bottom dwellers with sinking pellets or wafers, don't overfeed with flakes.

 

[simonas]

I have one which I've owned for 28 years.

seriously!!! wow

I love these fish

does he look like he has old age now?

 

[fluffycabbage]

If you have snails that keep on multiplying, you are most likely overfeeding. If you get rid of the extra food, the snails can't reproduce. I realize that some snails will eat algae, but when compared to the rich foods that we feed our fish, I am sure that algae alone won't sustain several hundred snails. You can weight down a leaf of lettuce and leave it in the tank overnight. In the morning, remove the lettuce leaf with all the snails on it to put a dent in their population and feed less. Most fish only need to be fed once a day with a rest (skip feeding for a day or two a week). Fish are cold blooded animals and they don't need near as much food as a warm blooded creature. In fact, you can skip feeding for two weeks and your fish will be totally fine. Try that with a mammal and you get bad results! If you are feeding and food reaches the gravel, you are feeding too much. Feed bottom dwellers with sinking pellets or wafers, don't overfeed with flakes.

thanks for that. yep i prob am overfeeding a little then. i bought some pygmy corys to go in that tank, but i think theyre a bit small to be effective to be honest, so im going to get something else. its odd how there are looooads in the 80l and virtually none in the 180l. maybe because theres nothing for them to feed on, as all the fish devour their food! the bottom is scrupulously clean! (maybe to do with 5 adult, 6 juve and 5 pygmy cories in there!) i only have tetras and a betta in the 80l so no bottom feeding food needed there.

 

[fergalthefish]

Clown loaches are not too small for any tank provided they have grown to an appropriate size. They only reach 12" in huge well maintained tanks are are usually closer to 7 " in captivity. They are not that agressive but don't take any s***t from anything. They are basically good guys with flick knives (under their eyes) and I have one which I've owned for 28 years. As regards snails, they need hard water to grow their shells so decide on what type of fish/water you want (soft or hard)and take it from there.

28years!!!!wow, would love to see a pic of that one!