VERY interesting... am I almost snail free?

[The_Nuge]

I have been battling a snail problem as some of you may have seen in my other threads. I have a tank im stocking with northern cw natives that was over run by snails picked up by live plants. I have tried everything to get rid of them! lately I have pulled all the drift wood and large rocks out. the plants all died from copper treatments that only slowed snails for a few days. and last of all a $40 dollar clown locah that im not sure has touched a snail. 3 weeks later i was ice fishing and brought home 6 white suckers I think! they were my bait fish. I thought why let them do to waste ill add them to my tank that needs a new view... with in the first week of having the suckers in the tank the snails are dwindling! now i have asked Alot! of people at lfs or on these forums and never was told a sucker might be an option!

is the clown loach doing his job? or are these suckers eating the eggs? young? is this the answer???

 

[RESET]

I had pond snails from some live plants as well as the typical aquarium snail. As my Greenies and bullies get larger my snails seem to be getting fewer. I think they are picking off the egg sacks. Could be that your loach is doing its thing or someone else got hungry.

 

[ar0wan]

how big is a $40 clown loach?

 

[jefferymoorhead]

You need a freshwater spotted puffer, the snail problem would be solved in a matter of days.

 

[The_Nuge]

The $40 clown loach is a little over 7 inches.. you can make out the 7 and 15 on the ruler behind him and guess. if his tail was pointed to be measured it would be about a half inch past the ruler.. big loach! and i dont want him.. anybody near Mn. interested???

I wonder if I just bought like a dozen more suckers from the bait shop or borrow.. would that be like a 1 week snail removal idea??

 

[Mr.Catfish]

White suckers do eat the eggs. Also alot of darters will actually eat the snail. They hunt them and suck them right out of their shell.

 

[warmouth]

You need a freshwater spotted puffer, the snail problem would be solved in a matter of days.

Do not get a spotted puffer unless you want to lose alot of fish also.

 

[Owain4]

Like you i also have (and still have a pond snail problem) one day i was really pissed off watching the snails and one of my Yellow perch swam past and ate a snail on a leaf. first time i saw them eat one, i almost crap my pants with happieness. they havent eaten a whole lot but i believe when they get bigger they will eat more of them. as for now i've just been squishing them lol

 

[warmouth]

I had pond snails from some live plants as well as the typical aquarium snail. As my Greenies and bullies get larger my snails seem to be getting fewer. I think they are picking off the egg sacks. Could be that your loach is doing its thing or someone else got hungry.

I forgot about Bullhead, I always think about Pumpkinseeds, Redbreasts or Redear sunnies when talking snail removal. I believe I read a post before on someones Brown Bullhead taking care of his snail problem.

 

[The_Nuge]

LOL.. N.P.

bull heads will eat them too ha? i have about 5 bullies but there all only a couple inches long.. i think my 13 inch walleye would make them a snack! well this is all good news! and of course only I would be losing my mind over someething like snails and stumble on an answer by accident..lol Owain I hear ya.. I have been crushing them like crazy too.. I seriously only see 1 or 2 a day now!! im pumped its time to re build my tank and get it back to looking like a real habitat.. I still have to get rid of two LMB and maybe my walleye anybody looking?