Snail Eating Fish

[Torrean]

Seems like snails are a big problem for some people. I don't mind them much but I bet a lot of people who go into lfs' and say "I have a snail problem" get taken to the tank with clown loaches in it. I know there are some smaller snail eaters but I can't vouch for any particular fish eating snails (other than dwarf puffers...and I learned quickly that they don't play well with others) so I'm asking if anyone has any personal experience with a particular fish eating snails.

Please Include:
on a scale of 1-10 how good they are at eliminating snails,
Adult size
scientific name (if you know it)
personality


Dwarf Puffer
Scientific Carinotetraodon travancoricus
snail eater 8
size 1"
Personality vicious

 

[Gankutsuou]

The most popular is the clown loach i believe.

community fish starts 2 inches and gets to about 8 i believe
likes to be in groups and is one of the few loaches more active in the day.
remember, group of 5+!
community fish, peaceful. kinda playful i hear. Nice to have. I don't think it eats small fish, but not 100%

 

[wodesorel]

Just remember - dwarf puffers are brackish, not freshwater. With that much salt in the water, the snails probably wouldn't survive, anyways.

 

[jayjay]

Dwarf puffers are pure FW not brackish. Clown loaches grow 12"

Using a fish as a cure to your problem is not the best way IMO. To get rid of snails my advice would be cut down your feeding, clean your tank more often and clean off algae. Also try to pick out as many snails as you can.

 

[wodesorel]

Hrm... I've always read and have been told brackish. Sorry!

 

[BBrain]

Good article here on controlling snails, as well as photos to help you identify what species of snail you have, and therefore what they eat, etc:
http/perso.infonie.be/pomacea/fight_uk.htm

 

[blackfinshark_3]

hmmmmmmmm, a small group of botias seems alright?

 

[Arfie]

Common Name - Bengal Loach
Scientific Name - Dario Dario
Snail eater - 7
Size - around 3"
Personality - They're loaches so they are loopy

They eat small "mystery" snails, not so keen on ramshorns (which is a pity as mystery snails will eat the ramshorns) They leave MTS alone.

Like to be in groups of 3 or more and will squabble and shove each other and will also try to do the same with cory's, but no damage is ever done

Theyre a bit mental and will often be found laying on their side or flat on their backs playing dead a bit shy and reclusive, but are prone to zipping around the tank chasing each other.

They like a nice cave to hide in or something else to hide under and they will tend to huddle together.

Arfie

 

[Anamagus]

Oscars, Red Revils, Jeweled cichlids, Gold Severums, Convicts, Dwarf Loaches, Giant Gourami's, Angelfish, Parahna, Firemouth cichlids Just to name a few!

 

[T1tch]

for clown loaches you willl need at least 8 otherwise they fite and single out others. If you have just one he will be lonely and there fore hide away alot

 

[rocknurworld2006]

best fish i found was the humbug catfish as its very peaceful and wont harm anything and does a grwat job of the snails

 

[Jamie87]

Hrm... I've always read and have been told brackish. Sorry!

Hmm..I agree with you on this. It's always been my understanding that they are brackish.

 

[trojannemo]

Theyre a bit mental and will often be found laying on their side or flat on their backs playing dead a

i think that's a loach thing, 'cause my clown loach will do the same. i freak out thinking it's dead, and when i get close up to the tank he starts moving.

for clown loaches you willl need at least 8 otherwise they fite and single out others. If you have just one he will be lonely and there fore hide away alot

i know clown loaches should be in groups now. when i got mine i wasn't aware of that. now that I have only one, i can't add more and i wouldn't want to get rid of him. i've had him for about 4 months, he's grown and gotten beautiful coloration. i dont notice him being shy at all. when the light is off in the tank he is constantly swimming with my other fish. him and my green tiger barb seem to have made friends and hang around together. the only time he is quiet and "hiding" is when the lights are on, but then again it's 108W shining on him so it's probably the light, not him being reclusive!

considering that they get to be 1' big (i'll have to give mine away at that point!) having a group of 8 seems a little too much no? that's at least a 90G tank you'd need there

 

[OohFeeshy]

Hmm..I agree with you on this. It's always been my understanding that they are brackish.

demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; pH range: 7.5 – 8.3

 

[willowsgrandad]

I have 3 chain loaches in a 165 Ltr. tank, have not seen a snail for months.