HummingBird Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 I was just wondering if anyone knows what sorts of snail eating catfish are sold commonly in NZ? Also what other sorts of snail eating fish would be suited to a 2ft aquarium? Thanks, Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 Clown laoches, but convicts will eat snails aswell, i love watching mine pull them off the glass take them down to the gravel and attempt to het at the snail by putting there heat in the shell. It looks so cute! Shae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatBrat Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 There are some species of pleco's that will eat snail's although I'm not sure if we can get them in NZ. Some species of Leporacanthicus will eat snails, but the only type of Leporacanthicus that I know of in NZ is the Vampire Pleco (L007), which costs about $199 (but it's very nice!!). A lot of species of loach's will eat snails. Clown Loach's are good, but they do get very large, (they grow slowly though), and will eventually out grow your 2' tank! They are a lot cheaper than most pleco's. Cheers, CatBrat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carriej Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Skunk loaches are more effective than clown loaches, I have found and will wipe out a tank ridden with snails within a couple of days. they are more likely to take on larger snails, and get into tighter spaces than clown loaches. I have a pair that I bought an keep specifically for snail control in my tanks. I have to warn you that smaller fish such as neons, are not safe with them, and I even had a honey gourami killed by them, when they ran out of snails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkytown Posted January 6, 2005 Report Share Posted January 6, 2005 This is a good question. I'm interested too. So we've got clown loaches and skunk loaches on the list...Any others? Has anyone else found skunk loaches to be a bit agro? Thanks, Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky Posted January 7, 2005 Report Share Posted January 7, 2005 Has anyone else found skunk loaches to be a bit agro? Oh yeah ! Actually agro isn't quite the right word. "Very boisterous" might be a better description. My one tends to chase new-comers away from its caves (i.e. all of them) although this tends to settle down after a few days and everyone lives happily ever after. The other thing it does is swim up to a fish, usually my kirbensis, and wiggles around it in very close contact. Not exactly family viewing. The kribensis has learnt to ignore this. On the other hand, it has never bitten any other fish and only chases fish to get them out of its caves. I suspect it is lonely. I didn't actually buy it, it came in a batch of plants from the LFS. Since it was unplanned I have never quite got around to getting it a mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeCee Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 I have found chocolate catfish (platydoras costatus) to be a very effective snail munchers. Did not bother the large brown apple snails but has made very short work of the baby apple snails and every other snail in the tank - got so fat in the first few weeks he looked a bit like one of those bubble helicopters Just a shame he hides most of the time :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 I have heard Strata Loaches do a really good job. Yet to try it myself though. I have heaps of snails waiting to be munched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 I have this loach in my big tank and I have never seen a snail in it despite the fact that I keep planting stuff from my other snail infested tanks. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewto ... 6&start=15 The bottom picture is the Dario and it seems very peaceful, especially compared to the yoyo loach. I posted the pic to get it identified and this is the reply Hi Jude. Got Graeme (aka Lord Loach) to have a look at your photos. He says that the 2nd pic is a Botia Dario Queen Loach. sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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