the best snail control

[N.C.]

about 2 months ago i bought about 300$ worth of live plant for my 54 gal planted tank, with in a month i was infested with snails. they were everywhere i counted 29 snails but in a heavily planted tank i assumed there were more. i thought about using a chemical type method to rid them but most chemical solutions will kill all inverts and i have 3 crayfish in there. so i did my research and found that the reed fish (rope fish) eat snails so 2 weeks ago i bought 1. now i have no more snails that i can see, i just really wanted to share this with all of you. this is a great alternative to chemical control. plus it adds an awesome fish to any planted tank.............

 

[crisper]

clown loaches are great at snail control as well.

 

[N.C.]

really i had 3 clown loaches in there and still had a hugh snail problem....maybe they just are not as aggresive feeders

 

[paopanlilio]

i was about to suggest clown loaches as well when i saw the thread name
maybe they just arent as aggresive as the rope when it comes to snails

 

[Lupin]

Crayfish and clown loaches don't mix. Assuming the crayfish are mellow, then the ropefish wouldn't bother but clown loaches will only harass the inverts to death and crays can molt so it is not surprising the loaches will look for the weakest point.

 

[spaulding]

my irwini rapheal always makes snails disapear.

 

[ewurm]

really i had 3 clown loaches in there and still had a hugh snail problem....maybe they just are not as aggresive feeders

I heard the same thing today. I think you need at least a half dozen or more, and the larger specimens (2.5"+). I actually collect snails for food. I don't have one tank that has snails.

 

[Sab_Fan]

for a 54G tank, I would go with the smaller yo-yo or zebra loaches . . . I went this route with a 30G tank and five zebra loaches, and the snails were gone in a day or two . . .

clown loaches are great, but: a) they do best in schools, b) they get pretty big

 

[andyjs]

I had a couple different species of Thorichthys cichlids that did great for snail control-except for MTS. They didn't like the pointed shells. It was actually pretty funny watching them learn not to eat the MTS (which was ok because they were the only snails I wanted). They would bite down on the shell and then freak out when they bit the pointed tip and try to spit it out.

 

[Dakkon]

are the snails eating your plants?
whats so wrong with snails! haha