paekakboyz Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 Hi All, Not sure if this thread is in the right spot (maybe belongs in catfish?) but I wanted to get a bit more info about fish that eat snails... I know clown loaches enjoy escargot but I don't really want to add any of them to my tank - I'd like to put together a list of known snail hunters and then make my selection from there. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 The only thing I know eat snails are large cichlids - especially Oscars and the like. They'll eat everything else that they can get into their mouths too. Other than loaches, some larger Plecs are the only fish I know will eat eggs, but usually as a bit of a 'by-catch' when eating surrounding algae. I suspect they don't taste so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jn Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 I have a very special snail eater.. it's called Stainless-steelus Tweezerus the very long type !! and whenever it spots a snail it reaches across and grabs it, . squishes it and that's the end of that. Seriously though... do snail traps work? I see them for sale on trade me.. says they can get in and can't get out. Sounds good to me! I mean once all your snails are gone and if yuo're careful they csholdn't come back again if you treat new plants etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paekakboyz Posted September 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 hmm that does sound like a good idea - I really like loaches (clowns aside) and other catfish so I thought I'd see if there was a 'natural' way to control/eradicate snails.. where did you pick up those long tweezers from jn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 There are other loaches that eat snails but dont grow as big as the clowns. I have some zebra loaches that are small (4" max) and peacefull, great for a community tank. They might not eradicate the snails, but between them taking out the little ones they come across and the Stainless-steelus Tweezerus to take out any big ones you see, you can control them well enough. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jn Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 Mine came from an army surplus store years ago! But I've seen them around.. maybe on trademe? Mine are about 15-20cm long at a guess. I still have to reach in but they're helpful even in catching very small ones. Everytime I see one I grab it. I figure if I keep at it I'll get there eventually I've seen them on US websites with tools for aquascaping but I'll poke around later tonight and see if I can spot some for sale somewhere here. Dunno if a chemist would have some (for fiddling with wound dressings etc.)? They're really handy for other things too like planting and pulling off dead leaves etc (ps: mine have a wide'ish blunt end.. not like the ones for pulling splinters!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 I got long tweezers from Wellington just recently cannot remember which shop but it was the one that is privately owned. Sarah or Billaney or peanuts would be able to tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paekakboyz Posted September 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 cool - I'll be at the Kapi Mana club night tonight so I'll ask around - zebra loaches aye.... sounds good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannet Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 beleave it or not but aqua one do nice long twizers coz thats where i got mine from (no idea where they are now, packed in a box somewhere lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanuts Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 fingers work just as well as tweezers - thats what I use. but if you are wanting a natural preditor you could try scunk loaches - I had one in my tank and he was great at keeping the population down. and the pet shop that Jimr was talking about would be Hutt Pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannet Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 oh dwarf chain loach are good to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 Just be aware that you will never remove al the snails by hand. If you really want to get rid of them, you'll need loaches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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