Fish solution for a snail problem?

Vegetatoboaotaku · #1 (**permalink**) 01-29-2004, 05:26 AM

I bought some "pet" anacharis... Just because I wanted to put something in an aquarium and go "ooo" look at my pretty aquarium... only problem is that they anacharis came with snails. Now I don't mind a couple of snails but they breed like bunnies and are eating my poor anacharis to pieces. I had the intentions down the line of setting up a full aquarium with fish and other easy to care for plants... So now that I'm being pushed into that position by a bunch of snails... I'm curious about what's the best snail eating fish.... And by best I mean loovves to eat snails and is hardy and resilient to all my potential fishy mistakes (and readily available and inexpensive).
I realize I could just spend my days removing snails and "cleaning" the anacharis but that seems far less fun than finding something that will eat the snails. I love blue gourami... do they have a taste for escargot?
These snails are the little size of pencil eraser guys not the big honking ones if I haven't made it clear yet...
Oh and currently my pet anacharis is being housed in a 10 gallon but it can be moved up to a tank as big as 40... so bigger-ish fish are possible.
Input would be appreciated.

suzi · #2 (**permalink**) 01-29-2004, 03:09 PM

I found out quickly that Convicts will eat snails, but also breed like bunnies. Another good choice is a Panda (Zebra) Cory Cat. They go by both names here, are smallish bottom feeders and LOVE snails. Good community fish and only grows a couple of inches.
* ran and got fish book*
From what I'm reading, all the Corydoras will eat snails, so if Pandas aren't around, you could try others. Largest size I'm seeing is 3 3/4".

reptilemama · #3 (**permalink**) 01-29-2004, 03:15 PM

I've also heard clown loaches are good for eating snails. Another trick I've heard is to put a plate in the bottom of the tank with a little piece of meat on it. The snails will congregate on it and you can remove them easily just by putting a cup over them and lifting out the plate. After a few times it's supposed to get rid of most if not all of them. Never tried it, but it might just work!

Vegetatoboaotaku · #4 (**permalink**) 01-31-2004, 06:13 PM

Thanks guys.... I guess I jjust need to go out on a fishy finding mission.... Is washed play sand a no for substrate in aquariums? I'm not going to have one of those "undergravel" filers... and does the inch of fish per gallon rule still a good one? i read that in a book somewhere when i was "wee" and had a full aquarium set up...
?

suzi · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 03:57 AM

My opinion on sand? I hate it. I have undergravel in one tank, with a mix of sand and crushed shell, and the sand gets icky really quickly. I use a gravity cleaner, but the sand just gets sucked right up. But I also have really dirty fish, so it might be better for someone else. I still go by the gallon rule, but tend to keep my tanks underpopulated because they fight.

C. hortulanus bites · #6 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 07:29 AM

I had a 30 that always had fungus problems and I would lose fish. As soon as I switched to the undergravel it went away and never lost fish. I have never had success without an undergravel filter. It was the only time I tried to do it without and it wasn't a good idea.

rustysdragons · #7 (**permalink**) 02-02-2004, 02:28 AM

Hi guys, I have worked in the pet trade for a while, and learned about fish from "generations of fishh keeprs and breedrs", Best advice I can think of
Snail eaters:
Botia, loaches, many cichlids, many catfish.
Watch the growth of cichlids, (many times you need larger tanks).
Inch of fish per gallon is a general rule. Keep in mind the girth of the fish, and how large they will grow. Example you have a 20 gallon tank, you want goldfish, you buy 10 comet goldfish, big mistake. You have to take into consideration that comet goldfish (including shubunkins) get approx 14 inches long, and have a life span of 20 to 30 years.
So just research what fish types your interested in before you buy, (not all petstores will tell you how big and what types go together etc)
Snails can be a huge pain, if you have an established aquarium of community fish, try and find cory cats (many species are available in the pet trade these days). Emerald, spotted, albino, etc.
Ok, sorry to ramble
Thanks
Rusty

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