My Plec Has Eaten A Large Apple Snail!

[minxfishy]

So my little plec (not sure on species, slow growing though and still only 1.5" max) who we've had for months now, has eaten a rather large apple snail that I put in the tank a couple of days ago. I didnt realise that they ate snails, so is this normal?

 

[Colin_T]

The snail probably died and the pleco has simply been grazing on the body. They don't normally go around killing snails so you have nothing to worry about regarding a killer psycho catfish. You should however, check the water quality because snails can be sensitive to poor water quality, (ie: ammonia, nitrite & nitrate). If any of these are up then that could be what killed the snail.

 

[~T~]

The snail probably died and the pleco has simply been grazing on the body. They don't normally go around killing snails so you have nothing to worry about regarding a killer psycho catfish. You should however, check the water quality because snails can be sensitive to poor water quality, (ie: ammonia, nitrite & nitrate). If any of these are up then that could be what killed the snail.

Thats what I would think although some species like leporacanthicus are snail eaters and may have killed it and eaten it. I would try and ID the pl*co if possible. Also as Colin_T said check your params as apple snails are very sensitive to high nitrate.

 

[minxfishy]

All checked out, no ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAtes about 30ppm, I moved them from a tank with the same params but was concerned for their safety because my severum was harrassing the smaller ones.

The others seem fine, strange this one died for no reason (that I can find). Seemed ok one day, the next I found the plec inside the shell sucking away on the body

Will try and get a pic of the little plec, see if someone can id him.

 

[Colin_T]

it's possible the snail was already stressed out and the move to the new tank is what killed it.

 

[~T~]

All checked out, no ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAtes about 30ppm, I moved them from a tank with the same params but was concerned for their safety because my severum was harrassing the smaller ones.

The others seem fine, strange this one died for no reason (that I can find). Seemed ok one day, the next I found the plec inside the shell sucking away on the body

Will try and get a pic of the little plec, see if someone can id him.

Sevs like most large cichlids will kill and eat apple snails. Their tankmates really need to be small community fish.

 

[B13]

My (6cm and growing fast) Sailfin Plec managed to eat a snail once.

And I only know that because I found/saw an empty snail shell in it's poo... That MUST have hurt on the way out!!!

 

[minxfishy]

All checked out, no ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAtes about 30ppm, I moved them from a tank with the same params but was concerned for their safety because my severum was harrassing the smaller ones.

The others seem fine, strange this one died for no reason (that I can find). Seemed ok one day, the next I found the plec inside the shell sucking away on the body

Will try and get a pic of the little plec, see if someone can id him.

Sevs like most large cichlids will kill and eat apple snails. Their tankmates really need to be small community fish.

Yeah I know, thats why I moved them With the plec, rasboras, platies, neons and a gourami now.