ChrisD90 Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Im after a fish that will eat the snails in my tank as the population is booming at the moment with no end in sight. I have a 6ft aquarium that isn't overly populated and is a very peaceful, calm tank I'm just wondering which fish would go well in a community tank that would keep my pest snail population at bay? Thanks for any info 😀\ 🐌 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atitagain Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 In a community tank I can’t really think of much, maybe pea puffers. I haven’t had experience with other puffers. But all the other fish I can think of that would eat snails are bigger cichlids Oscars and African that size and they are not community fish. What about assassin snails? I’ve never used them but from what most say they do what their name says . You could also slow down the population boom by cutting back on your feedings. Snails only populate to how much food is available to them. good luck mate 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 clown loaches will take out snails. assassin snails are also a great way to go if you dont want a snail eating fish. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 On 11/14/2021 at 9:37 AM, lefty o said: clown loaches will take out snails. assassin snails are also a great way to go if you dont want a snail eating fish. Thanks Lefty appreciate the reply. How do clown loaches go with other fish? Someone else has said yoyo loaches which are more peaceful? Thank you so much for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 good question which i cant give you a good answer to. had a friend who kept 1 in a community tank for the sole purpose of snail elimination. beyond that, im not very qualified to comment. im an assassin snail kinda guy myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 I will go to my LFS and see what advice they have on loaches, I haven't actually ever seen assassin snails for sale over here in Australia but then again I have never looked for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_RF Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 Perhaps consider assassin snails. Get a few and yes for a while their population may boom while they eat your other snails, but after they have decimated your other snails their own population will rapidly decline. If you do wish to continue to keep them long term, consider adding meaty food like xtreme kreel flakes or even frozen foods for them to munch on. https://aquahuna.com/products/assassin-snail?_pos=1&_sid=a2fbf9672&_ss=r Here are some videos highlighting assassin snails: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 On 11/14/2021 at 10:02 AM, Ben_RF said: Perhaps consider assassin snails. Get a few and yes for a while their population may boom while they eat your other snails, but after they have decimated your other snails their own population will rapidly decline. If you do wish to continue to keep them long term, consider adding meaty food like xtreme kreel flakes or even frozen foods for them to munch on. https://aquahuna.com/products/assassin-snail?_pos=1&_sid=a2fbf9672&_ss=r I actually just looked into Assassin snails and because I'm in Australia they are actually illegal because they are viewed as an invasive species. There was someone selling some but for $100 per snail because they were smuggled in illegally and I'm not really down with owning something that could potentially harm native species if it managed to get out. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 When my snails become overcrowded I throw in one or two green beans. They pile onboard the beans like crazy. After an hour or two I scoop them all out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 On 11/14/2021 at 10:07 AM, DaveO said: When my snails become overcrowded I throw in one or two green beans. They pile onboard the beans like crazy. After an hour or two I scoop them all out. `Thats a great idea I will definitely give this one a go thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 Dwarf chain loach are great at keeping snail population in check and do well in a community tanks 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 On 11/14/2021 at 1:24 PM, Colu said: Dwarf chain loach are great at keeping snail population in check and do well in a community tanks Thanks @Colu I will look into them. Not sure I will be able to get them where I am unless I order online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 On 11/14/2021 at 2:27 AM, ChrisD90 said: Thanks @Colu I will look into them. Not sure I will be able to get them where I am unless I order online. They stay small only getting to 2in and they like to be kept in small groups 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 @ChrisD90Khulii loaches, Clown loaches, Yoyo loaches, and a whole host of Loaches will eat snails, pretty much anything with the word Loach in its' name will eat snails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 On 11/14/2021 at 1:35 PM, Gator said: @ChrisD90Khulii loaches, Clown loaches, Yoyo loaches, and a whole host of Loaches will eat snails, pretty much anything with the word Loach in its' name will eat snails. I'm about to head to my LFS and see what loaches they have. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndEEss Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 A fully grown clown loach might be too much fish for a 6’ tank. They are not small. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 I ended up getting 2 Yoyo loaches as that's what my LFS had so hopefully they do the job they're only small at the moment but I know they will grow but at least they don't get as big as clowns. I also couldn't help but buy some more tetras and a few new foods to try out🤣🤣 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000tetras Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 Get a schoutedeni puffer. They are like 200$ but in my experience are not aggressive and are only 3 inches. They are like a swimming chicken nugget with puffer personality. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 On 11/14/2021 at 4:05 PM, 2000tetras said: Get a schoutedeni puffer. They are like 200$ but in my experience are not aggressive and are only 3 inches. They are like a swimming chicken nugget with puffer personality. OMG!! That is an awesome looking fish! I would love to get some puffers but they are really hard to come by in Australia I have never even heard of these ones they look amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000tetras Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 These only became available in the last few years due to the lower level of war in the congo. They are being bred in captivity now for profit. I’m sure they will become available in AUS within the next few years. They are basically the perfect community puffer. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 I am going to be keeping a close eye on these and hopefully will be able to get one one day! Thank you for sharing this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott the fishman Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 great question zebras loaches and yoyo loaches will eat all baby snails and are good tank mates. clown loaches can eat adult snails but can get up to a foot long. hope that helps 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisD90 Posted November 14, 2021 Author Share Posted November 14, 2021 On 11/15/2021 at 3:21 AM, scott the fishman said: great question zebras loaches and yoyo loaches will eat all baby snails and are good tank mates. clown loaches can eat adult snails but can get up to a foot long. hope that helps Thanks Scott I ended up with 2 small yoyo loaches and am very happy with my purchase they already have heaps of personality and look great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott the fishman Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 On 11/14/2021 at 12:05 PM, ChrisD90 said: Thanks Scott I ended up with 2 small yoyo loaches and am very happy with my purchase they already have heaps of personality and look great. grats on your two new friends! i did read on line that yoyo loaches do best in grps of 5 or more. i had five lost one but the four i have are doing great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn T Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 A friend of mine got pea puffers for her 55g planted community tank. They're fun to watch. I have assassin snails in 2 of my tanks. I bought a snail trap in case I need to catch snails from tanks where I don't want the assassins (like my 29g that has a nerite in it). I just transfer the snails to my assassin tank. I've done that for the tank in the office of my church. They feed a HUGE pleco in that tank and that feeds the snails, so their population is always high. My assassins sure stay happy. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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