Topic: Loach to eat pond snails

[ruthcatrin]

The tank is a 30 gall, the problem is that its pretty well stocked already.  Plus a million or so pond snails.... The tank is heavily planted with lots of caves/hidey's, and its over filtered (50gall filter).

I'd rather the loach in question not get to horribly big, max 4 inches.  I know that may be too small to get the bigger snails but thats ok, I've been pulling the bigger snails anyway to give to the cichlid who'd decided he likes them.  I just can't pull snails fast enough (neither does he eat them fast enough) to keep up with the things.

I've been looking at:

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-striata
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/acanthocobitis-botia
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/sinibotia-reevesae
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/yasuhikotakia-nigrolineata


anyone here familer with these or have any other suggestions?  Also I know the "hillstream loaches" aren't really loaches per-se but does anyone know if they'll eat snails (or snail eggs...)?

[ShieldWolf]

Of the choices listed, go with the 1st one - zebra loach. Don't bother with the hillstraem loach. I have some. They are cute but won't help.
Just remember that generally loaches will usually eat snails assuming it's not already being well fed.

[Cholly]

Another possibility, botia almorhae, the yoyo loach. It says up to 6 inches, but I've only seen one over 4 inches, ever. Individuals vary, some are indifferent to snails, some go completely bats and will eat snails until they can hardly move. Most of mine have loved snails.
Yoyos are probably less expensive than those you listed, too.

[ruthcatrin]

The problem is that this also happens to be the tank with the scarlet badis in it and I'm a bit worred about a larger fish munching on them!  On the other hand I can get yoyo's locally but not zebra's (but I found a seller with a decent price for them on aquabid so maybe....)

[Yipee]

If you can get them, Assasin snails are ideal. They won't eat ur scarlet badis and gets rid of other snails.

[ruthcatrin]

would the assasin snail bother the apple snail?

[Cholly]

I've kept yoyos with neons and/or glolight tetras many times with never a problem.

[bulrush]

I got a clown loach to eat snails but he doesn't seem to eat many at all. The snails breed faster than the loach eats them. Perhaps this individual is picky.

But I also need a loach to eat MTS. I'll check out the links above.

[ShieldWolf]

I got a clown loach to eat snails but he doesn't seem to eat many at all. The snails breed faster than the loach eats them. Perhaps this individual is picky.

But I also need a loach to eat MTS. I'll check out the links above.

If possible, underfeed the loach. In general, a well fed loach will chose to eat snails last over any other food. Of course you'd be possibly underfeeding any other fish in the tank too.

As for an MTS eating loach, if you find one post up. I've had clown loaches & they don't do a very good job on them. I've also had zebras & yoyos & they performed even more poorly.