A single assassin snail might do it. I have ramshorn and Malayan trumpet snails in all my tanks, along with assassin snails. The assassins keep the populations of other snails in control but never completely eliminate them.
Fish suggestion? Need to control but not annihilate snails.
Dear everybody,
I am setting up a 12-15 gallon fish bowl (yes it’s that big) and I need an interesting fish that will eat some snails but get along with 10 or so tetras & some cherry shrimp. I like bladder snails- They have a cool personality, they zip around the tank pretty fast and they do a great job of cleaning up. The problem is, is that they breed like crazy. I need a snail killer that won’t kill EVERY snail. 🐌
I don’t want to use a betta for this tank, but I am open to maybe using a single female betta if that is the best option. I was thinking of some kind of loach but it can’t be too big. I was considering a couple of kuhli loaches but I’m getting mixed messages if they eat snails or not. Maybe I need an assassin snail, but again I don’t want it to kill EVERY snail.
In a relatively smallish tank, what fish would you choose to control bladder snails but not kill them all?
I am setting up a 12-15 gallon fish bowl (yes it’s that big) and I need an interesting fish that will eat some snails but get along with 10 or so tetras & some cherry shrimp. I like bladder snails- They have a cool personality, they zip around the tank pretty fast and they do a great job of cleaning up. The problem is, is that they breed like crazy. I need a snail killer that won’t kill EVERY snail. 🐌
I don’t want to use a betta for this tank, but I am open to maybe using a single female betta if that is the best option. I was thinking of some kind of loach but it can’t be too big. I was considering a couple of kuhli loaches but I’m getting mixed messages if they eat snails or not. Maybe I need an assassin snail, but again I don’t want it to kill EVERY snail.
In a relatively smallish tank, what fish would you choose to control bladder snails but not kill them all?
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
Guppies eat snails oddly enough. I’ve never seen it happen but no snails are bigger than .25”. They leave the small ones alone.
I have had bettas for years and have NEVER seen one eat a snail, you would be best getting an assassin snail.
Thank you for all of the suggestions! If anyone else has a suggestion, I’d love to hear it.
I’ll see if my local fish store has assassin snails 👍
I think that depends on the betta! I have heard of bettas being super predators killing every small animal in the tank! 😂 Worms, ostrocods, larva, snails all get eaten. I think fish sometimes need to get a “taste” for certains kinds of food. I wonder if your betta would eat a freshly crushed snail offered during meal time. I also read from another user that her guppies would “forget” they could eat ostrocods until they eventually took over the tank, then they would go on a feeding frenzy until the numbers get reduced. Fish are funny with their habits. What I’m trying to avoid is having a betta kill my entire clean up crew 😭I have had bettas for years and have NEVER seen one eat a snail, you would be best getting an assassin snail.
I’ll see if my local fish store has assassin snails 👍
I breed bettas and have tried feeding snails. They spat them out lol.Thank you for all of the suggestions! If anyone else has a suggestion, I’d love to hear it.
I think that depends on the betta! I have heard of bettas being super predators killing every small animal in the tank! 😂 Worms, ostrocods, larva, snails all get eaten. I think fish sometimes need to get a “taste” for certains kinds of food. I wonder if your betta would eat a freshly crushed snail offered during meal time. I also read from another user that her guppies would “forget” they could eat ostrocods until they eventually took over the tank, then they would go on a feeding frenzy until the numbers get reduced. Fish are funny with their habits. What I’m trying to avoid is having a betta kill my entire clean up crew 😭
I’ll see if my local fish store has assassin snails 👍
For me, the easiest way to control the snail population is to just reach in and squash them against the glass. The fish enjoy them as a good live food snack.Dear everybody,
I am setting up a 12-15 gallon fish bowl (yes it’s that big) and I need an interesting fish that will eat some snails but get along with 10 or so tetras & some cherry shrimp. I like bladder snails- They have a cool personality, they zip around the tank pretty fast and they do a great job of cleaning up. The problem is, is that they breed like crazy. I need a snail killer that won’t kill EVERY snail. 🐌
I don’t want to use a betta for this tank, but I am open to maybe using a single female betta if that is the best option. I was thinking of some kind of loach but it can’t be too big. I was considering a couple of kuhli loaches but I’m getting mixed messages if they eat snails or not. Maybe I need an assassin snail, but again I don’t want it to kill EVERY snail.
In a relatively smallish tank, what fish would you choose to control bladder snails but not kill them all?
Snails are your friends. Contrary to popular belief they do not eat plants. Plants get holes from mineral defficiencies. They also will show you, if You are overfeeding the tank, if their population is growing to be too much. Whatever You do, DO NOT get a clown loach. They grow very large and must be kept in groups to thrive
My local fish store has kuhli loaches. They stay small, might eat some snails sometimes and are cute. I’ll get a few of those. I have lots of snails in many varieties. I’m just looking for something to keep things in balance.Snails are your friends. Contrary to popular belief they do not eat plants. Plants get holes from mineral defficiencies. They also will show you, if You are overfeeding the tank, if their population is growing to be too much. Whatever You do, DO NOT get a clown loach. They grow very large and must be kept in groups to thrive
Chain loach/botia stay pretty small.
Very cute. Thanks for the suggestion!Chain loach/botia stay pretty small.
Those are super fun to keep. They do like to be in a bunch tho to be happy. The advantage; they are indeed small.My local fish store has kuhli loaches. They stay small, might eat some snails sometimes and are cute. I’ll get a few of those. I have lots of snails in many varieties. I’m just looking for something to keep things in balance.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
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