Ideas for large snail eating fish

[Joshuakahan]

Depends on how mean the individual is. The average aggression, and even the meaner ones, should be fine. No experience with them and bichirs, but it does well with my cichlids. As long as who it is attacking fights back, it will be okay.

I saw maculatus on bluegrass aquatics a while ago. No longer there.

Thanks, I’ve bought lots of fish from tampabaycichlids, bluegrass sister site, maybe I’ll send David an email

 

[fishguy1978]

Yo-Yo loaches do well solo and eat snails.

 

[Joshuakahan]

So I tried a clown loach and it ate the larger snails, but now my tanks is being completely over run with the little ones. I was unable to find a maculatus and I don’t want to risk a leporinus
Any other ideas for snail control? Assassin snails?

 

[Deadeye]

So I tried a clown loach and it ate the larger snails, but now my tanks is being completely over run with the little ones. I was unable to find a maculatus and I don’t want to risk a leporinus
Any other ideas for snail control? Assassin snails?

Assassins would probably do it.
I’d say the use smaller Botias like skunks, but those are at risk of getting eaten. I read balas will eat them...might be abused by the current stocking though.
Could you try setting traps up? Slice of cucumber and when they all gather on it you take it out, repeat until gone...probably won’t get them all though.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Assassins would probably do it.
I’d say the use smaller Botias like skunks, but those are at risk of getting eaten. I read balas will eat them...might be abused by the current stocking though.
Could you try setting traps up? Slice of cucumber and when they all gather on it you take it out, repeat until gone...probably won’t get them all though.

Good idea, it’s a 180, so I think I’ll put a cucumber every two feet and see what I get, thanks!

 

[Andyroo]

tie a bit of string around the neck of a small (glass?) drink bottle (IE tapered neck) with a tiny bit of (clean, lean) meat; maybe fish, window-bug, squished snail. Bottle will fill with snails. Some will go home to substate by AM, most will pool at bottom of bottle to be removed. Play with angle, maybe a bit of sand in the bottom so they don't "home"

 

[duanes]

Those seem pretty cool, do you know where to get them? I’m not seeing these available anywhere

Daves Rare Cichlids in Texas, has 2 species of Paratroplus at the moment (dambabe, and kieneri.
Don't know that they are snail proficient eliminators though.

Kieneri above, young dam babe below

And I know he is friends with a Malagasy breeder that regularly has other Paretroplines.

 

[fishdance]

The only way I've been able to eradicate Malaysian Trumpet Snail is to remove all substrate, spread it out thinly on steel roof sheets on my concrete driveway in the middle of scorching summer and cook them dead.

You only need one to escape detection for the snail plague to return. They are live bearers. Amazing little things.

 

[Joshuakahan]

The only way I've been able to eradicate Malaysian Trumpet Snail is to remove all substrate, spread it out thinly on steel roof sheets on my concrete driveway in the middle of scorching summer and cook them dead.

You only need one to escape detection for the snail plague to return. They are live bearers. Amazing little things.

They are prolific, I had a Fahaka puffer and bought some for her to eat. I thought she ate them all but 3 years after I sold her they somehow managed to make it to my other tanks and exploded in the 180

 

[JAYBIRD1011]

I used assassin snails to remedy my trumpet snails. I put about 10 of them in there. It took about 2 months for it to make a dent, but it worked. And as a bonus, no adverse bioload or compatibility problems from adding more fish.