snail removal / tiger loach ?

[JoelR]

Okay,, I have 4 adult Mystery snails and probably over 100 baby snails. I would like to get a fish to help keep the babies under control but I don't want them to kill the adult snails. I know loaches are good snail removers but will they kill the adults too?
Also, I like the tiger loach (Botia hymenophysa) but I'm reading that they can get a bit aggressive. Would they be a safe tank mate with my Poly's & ropes or would they pester the crap out of them?

Thanks.
Joel

 

[JoelR]

Well, looking at other loaches, I like some others as well. I wouldn't mind a school of YoYo's or clowns. So, would either of those kill the adult snails?
Better yet, is there any that will only eat the baby snails, but won't get eaten by the polys?

If not, I'll just get some yoyos and put them in my 55 and put the baby snails in there. But that's only if it won't work in the 125 with the adult snails & polys.

Thanks.
Joel

 

[rasdbo]

yoyo's are safe but if you have pikes or aggressive fish the will get eatn when the predators get bigger, clown loaches will also eat your big snails because thats what they did to mine. my tiger loaches disappeared in my tank. so i don't know about them yet.

 

[Angel51087]

I had a tiger and he never touched the few snails i did have, but you are right they can be very pushy and pester other fish, he forever hated my bristlenose. Clowns are very good at snail-eating but I guess it all depends on the size of your other inhabitants. I'm thinking they won't distinguish between adult and baby snail but you never know.

 

[moespeaking]

the loaches will eat the big snails too, but if they didnt you would just keep getting more babies.

 

[JoelR]

the loaches will eat the big snails too, but if they didnt you would just keep getting more babies.

I want some snails though,,, they are great at helping control algae on the log & plants. I just don't need a couple thousand snails. LOL

I guess I'll just get some yoyo's and put them into the 55. I'll just take out the baby snails and give them as occasional feasts.

Now,, if I could get my polys & ropes to breed like the snails, I'll be in there.

 

[ewurm]

Well, looking at other loaches, I like some others as well. I wouldn't mind a school of YoYo's or clowns. So, would either of those kill the adult snails?
Better yet, is there any that will only eat the baby snails, but won't get eaten by the polys?

If not, I'll just get some yoyos and put them in my 55 and put the baby snails in there. But that's only if it won't work in the 125 with the adult snails & polys.

Thanks.
Joel

YoYos and Clowns will usually devour snails and mussels.

 

[filiportela]

every time i find a snail... puffers

 

[Bigg081]

i had clowns and snails and never had a problem with my larger snails. dont get large clowns though. they are really hard to find much bigger than 2-3" bc they are such slow growers. and if you have other communiry fish with long whispy fins clowns can be nippy but nothing to bad.

 

[Lupin]

Also, I like the tiger loach (Botia hymenophysa) but I'm reading that they can get a bit aggressive. Would they be a safe tank mate with my Poly's & ropes or would they pester the crap out of them?

Nearly all the loaches of Syncrossus genus are extremely aggressive.