Do clown loaches really eat snails?

Question

I just put a little loach in the tank because I had a REALLY bad problem with snails - - I figured he's a little stressed right now....

But how long might it take for him to "calm down" and do they really eat snails - lots of them? [Do they eat them shells and all?]

Just wondering

Thanks all

Answer 1

i got one for my problem and it didnt eat any.   he was really small though.  and later, i figured out he needed like a 75 gallon tank.

your better off taking him back in a couple days, if your tank is any smaller then that and put some lettuce or cucumbers in there , then wait for a bunch to go on there and then take the lettuce out and throw it away.

and you can take a sponge thing and wipe the sides of the tank with it.   like the sponges that are on sticks that you clean the algea off with.

hope this helps.  oh yeah, and i have a few snails, in my 20 gallon, just pond snails, and i no one of my fish are eating them but i dont no wut ones.   either my danios or kuhli loaches, so yeah.   goodluck  :]

Answer 2

they really dont eat snails at allllllllll.if u wanna get rid of the snails u gotta change the sand in the tank completely and wash it wt rock salt{tank}.

Answer 3

I dont know about clown loaches, but if you have a tank full of snails I think the best thing to get would be a puffer, dwarf or your choice, they LOVE snails and they wear down their beak. You could have a nicely balanced ecosystem by adding a pufer, they look so cool buzzing around the tank too.

Jealous!!  considered buying mass reproducing snails and a tank to house only pufferfish^^

But your new loach should be used to his new home in a couple days, and if they do eat snails I'm sure he'll be glad you chose him to bring home!

Good luck with your new pet:)

Answer 4

They will definitely eat the majority of snail infestations, though juveniles may have trouble with Malaysian Trumpet Snails due to their size.  At around 4 inches, it should be able to eat them, though.  They do not eat the shells, but you will be able to suck them out whenever you vacuum the gravel.  Also, be sure you'll be able to get them a 125+ gallon tank, as when they're more than a foot long, they'll need ever bit of it.

Answer 5

They sure do eat snails! It should calm down in a day or two. they prefer snails to regular fish food - snails=live food! If he is really small it will take longer, but eating live snails will help him grow larger and healthier. They suck out the snail, leaving the empty shell behind.

Loaches are much better than using chemicals. After the chemical kills the snails you have a whole bunch of dead snails polluting the water unless you find and remove them all. Then you would REALY have a problem on your hands.

Loaches are really cool fish in my opinion!

Answer 6

most definately..

i knew a person with an apple snail that was about the size of a 12'' softball.. quite proud of it.. but when it did eventually die he fed it to his clown loaches.. the 4 of those 8 inch monsters has that shell empty within 1 hour