Bichir and Apple snails?

[Spiritofthesoul]

So I was thinking about adding some large apple snails in my bichir tank to serve as the cleanup crew for those leftover sinking pellets.

Is this combination feasible? My bichirs are now between 5~8". The largest being my Ornate.

For now, those large apple snails shells would not be able to fit into those bichir's mouth. But what I am worry is that they would attack the snails when they are out of their shell.

So what do you think?

Another question, do you think they would eat those annoying detritus worms growing on the walls of the tank?

 

[tokyogasmask]

Most likely end bad for the snails eventually.

The worms on the walls are Planaria worms.
Get a better filter, feed a little less and vacuum more often to stop this.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

haha somehow i think an FX5 an a 70g is as good as you can get. Vac my gravel every week during water changes.

Only problem seems to be that those brats are messy eaters. Devour those sinking pellets and leave a trail of mess behind, hence the need for a cleanup crew.

Might try one snail. If he makes it pass a week surviving and no injuries, may add more. Thanks for the advice though

 

[tokyogasmask]

Well, each to their own.
Why not just vaccum after they have eaten?

I have 4 tanks packed with over 30 Polypterus as well as others (Arowana, Bass, Snakehead, Dats, Gar etc) and suffer no Planaria.

I vacuum after they have eaten.

 

[Lupin]

Ask msjinkzd. She once kept a cana and a haustrum with her bichirs I believe.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Why not just vaccum after they have eaten?

One word : Laziness

Ask msjinkzd. She once kept a cana and a haustrum with her bichirs I believe.

Will do, thanks for the reference

 

[Cohazard]

I've got 3 apple snail (bridgedsii?) with my bichirs, and i have no issues with them bothering each other.

The snails do eat the same sinking pellets my bichirs do; the only issue is that the bichirs will get rowdy at feeding time and knock the snails around, but no harm, no foul.

 

[angryinsect]

large snails may survive, small ones will get eaten for sure. I throw 20-30 large ramshorns snail once every week or two and they and they disappear overnight

 

[Jungle]

I had a snail hitch a ride on my PBB for almost a whole day, was kinda worried about it's slime coat but all ended up well. They rarely predate on the snails in my experience though.

 

[tokyogasmask]

I had a snail hitch a ride on my PBB for almost a whole day, was kinda worried about it's slime coat but all ended up well. They rarely predate on the snails in my experience though.

LOL, I got a PBB in with a large sailfin right now...

Though the said sailfin has not ever attempted to go near the Bichirs in there, I do plan on removing it pretty soon!