hi guys I guess the title says it all really I have a 240 litre tank with angel fish & a bristle nose & a Borneo sucker. We have had an infestation of these tiny pest snails & need to know how to get rid of them without using a bottle killer/chemicals. Or a snail killer that is safe with hillstream loaches as they are super subedtabile to meds? Our LFS suggested clown loaches but they’re not something I’d want long term so we’d only give them back once the snails are gone. Any other suggestions?
How to get rid of snails (WITHOUT SNAIL BOTTELED SNAIL KILLER)
- Thread starter Cichlidfamily
- Start date
If they bother you get an assasin snail, but really snails are beneficial in that they break down uneaten food
I agree with Deadkiestviper7, especially if you are taking about those tiny cone snails, those that work thru the substrate keeping it from compacting and going anaerobic, helping to break down old food, plant matter, and other things that need further breaking down.
That said,
I have found the cichlids of the Malagasy genus Paretroplus to be amazing snail eaters. If a tank became over run, I could put a P menerambo, or maculatus in the tank and within 24 hours, the snail population would be severely reduced. They can moved from tank to tank as needed, and will dig into the substrate after hidden snails.
Paaretroplines have can opener like teeth that can extract the snail flesh from those with shells too hard to crush.
That said,
I have found the cichlids of the Malagasy genus Paretroplus to be amazing snail eaters. If a tank became over run, I could put a P menerambo, or maculatus in the tank and within 24 hours, the snail population would be severely reduced. They can moved from tank to tank as needed, and will dig into the substrate after hidden snails.
Paaretroplines have can opener like teeth that can extract the snail flesh from those with shells too hard to crush.
