snails vs. pleco

[RTCatz]

Which one do you think would take care of the algae problem better? I'd rather use snails since I heard plecos eat the skin mucus on fish in some cases. Are snails good at controlling algae? Thx!

[ewurm]

Snails are excellent cleaners. I recommend Mystery snails and Malaysian Trumpet Snails.
Maybe go with both, thats what I do. Also, get some otos.

[USMCtanker]

Which one do you think would take care of the algae problem better? I'd rather use snails since I heard plecos eat the skin mucus on fish in some cases. Are snails good at controlling algae? Thx!

what i have seen is, snails tend to clean more but plecos are better to llok at. i just get 2 plecos and let them go to work. snails are just to dull to me

[throttle]

plecos are cool looking, but they poop ALOT! snails are less work IMO

[USMCtanker]

plecos are cool looking, but they poop ALOT! snails are less work IMO
ya thats is very true. but i like to do water changes once a week so its ok

[Jason_S]

imo, it depends on the tank size. in a smaller tank a few snails could probably keep the algae under control fairly well, however in anything over say a 29 gallon it would take several snails which may become unsightly or distractive. a bristlenose plec will always be my favorite way to control algae though I've heard great things about ottos and siamese algae eaters. I've never kept either of these though so I can't say how well they compare. :)

[davo]

i'd go with the snails. even some plecos that do eat algae, usually are not amazingly affective. there are ottos and flying foxes though, and these both do a good job, but are small

[guppy]

Snails do a beter job.

[The_Gooch]

Just out of curiousity, would three mystery snails do a "decent" job in a 30 gallon? Or perhaps should I opt for a pleco?

[ewurm]

I have two in my 15, I would go with 4-5. Anyone know, do these do well in cold water?

[DeLgAdO]

stop being lazy!!

use a scrub pad and get wet!! :D

[aquaboyaquatics]

Amano shrimp blow them all out of the water!

[davo]

i have this one tiny snail with that survives with 2 plecs, and 2 pakistani (yoyo) loachs, its about 2 mm, and i see it about once every 2 months. it rocks my world

[tothna]

I've heard people talking about snails taking over their tanks. Whats the deal with this, this has always made me wary of buying snails.

[villiger]

i think prefer plecos, otherwise you need clown loaches to keep the Malay snails population in check

[gomezladdams]

Oh I thought you wanted to know which would win,My pleco eats mystery snails had to stop putting them in there

[TrickBaby1019]

Well personaly I have a pleco and a golden algea eater, they do a great job. I was leary to purchase any snails because they reproduce a sexually and they may overpopulate the tank.

[BigPleco]

I agree with ewurm! Snails will be better cuz they dont crap as much as the plecos!!!

[golcondorus]

the snails that people talk about taking over your tank are usually the little tiny pond snails that come in with live plants and a lot of the time when there netting the fish for you, sometimes you get some little snails, those will multiply like mad. Other snails are fine like black mystery snails, apple snails, ramshorn snails, they wont take over your aquarium, and if the try, there much bigger and can be much easier to control

[red oscar]

i like a combo i have snails and 2 clown plecos

[dr_sudz]

I love my pleco but the poops are HUGE! tuff to say which would be better.

[bmw325is89]

Snails seem to do a better job than plecos.

[KillerKlover]

Snails may do a better job but plecos are much cuter.

[TheUnhappiest]

Just get both! Snails do a WAY better job, but Pleco's are WAY cooler. I like how Pleco's eat too.

[Micky_Fahaka]

Yeah get a Snail or two and a nice pleco!!

[MrRngr94]

i like a combo i have snails and 2 clown plecos

:werd:

I have one apple snail, one pleco, and at least 20 ghost shrimp.
IMO I like the snail and shrimp the best. My pleco seems to be nocturnal so I hardly ever get to see him. The shrimp are cool b/c seeing them work is like watching Fraggle Rock. lol The apple snail is cool cuz he just eats anything in his path. I've found him stuffing two peas in his mouth at the same time once. Then just a few days ago he climbed to the top of the tank to grab a plant that floated up. He fell all the way to the bottom and landed with those three stems still in his mouth. :headbang2

[dmarinko]

plecos rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!

[justin]

Snails are slow and reproduce alot, they also produce alot of waste. You might not see it, but its there. Some plecos will eat algae, but lots won't. Plecos are true catfish and enjoy meaty foods as much as veggies. Most eat algae because thats what they get. As for otto cats they are small and are good for small tanks. Siamese algae eaters are like loaches and do eat alot of hair algae and try to scrape slime off the glass but leave trails due to their mouth shape. I like chinese and golden algae eaters. They have sucker mouths, love algae, and do a terrific job. However the chinese and golden algae eaters do get between 8 inches and a foot and get aggressive when large. I put 2-3 inch chinese algae eaters in my 80 gallon tank (the back of tank and plants were covered in algae). Two days later it was nearly spotless. Also rosie barbs are excellant for green hair algae.

[aquaboyaquatics]

Rams Horn snail, Otto Cats, Amano shrimp. There is you answer for a clean up crew. They will leave it spotless in about a week.