Clown Loach eating Snails

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WestTex

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jun 15, 2008
135
0
16
New Braunfels, Texas
I have heard that clown loaches like to eat snails. How true is this? I have a 55 gallon that is full of them...I have recently moved, removed all the gravel out of the aquarium and stored it in a ice chest. I left the lid closed and kept the ice chest in the garage for around four to five weeks. The gravel was all but dry. The snails actually lived...They are alive and kicking again now that the tank is back up and running. I have tried many methods of getting rid of the snails. I had thought that taking them out of water for 5 weeks during transit would definatly kill them but they adapted and overcame. Can a Clown Loach help control the problem?

I am setting this tank up to be a planted community aquarium. All the species in this aquarium will be under 3 inches long for the most part. I have kept Clowns in the past but during that time I didn't have a snail problem.
 
Please don't do that. Unless you plan on starting a 55g Loach tank, that is. They are not just some everyday scavenger fish & they don't do well by themselves. All that said...if you get a Loach squad & treat them right I bet they would go ahead & help you out with the snail problem.
 
i just bought 3 of them yesterday and surprisingly all the snails were gone over night....I was very impressed
 
I have kept a gang of clowns in this same tank 6 years ago. I enjoyed the heck out of them. At the time I didn't have this problem with the snails. Now that I'm redoing the tank due to the move I intend on having another "gang" of three or so clowns. and if they take care of my snail problem, awsome..if they don't i don't really care, I just like the fish to begin with. I was just curious as to if anyone had any luck with them taking out the snails
 
If you want to get back into Loaches, go for it! Get more than just 3 clowns, though. Mix in at least 3 Polkadot loaches too. They stay smaller & still shoal with the clowns. You should get at least 5 or 6 small specimens. They will be much more active & comfortable.
 
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