New to Loaches/Botias!!

[Stewey956]

Well, I have a snail problem in several of my tanks(Ramshorn, and dwarf ramshorns).

Looking for loaches suitable for each tank.

1 10 gallon with a few fish.

1 20 gallon with 14 or so inches of fish.

1 37 gallon filled with a tropical community(Can fit a 4 or 5 inch fish)

My local tropical fish store, AquaTek has a wide variety of loaches and botias, so they most likely have what will be suited to my tanks.

Do all loaches need to be kept in small groups?

Now another question is, can a smaller loach that is 4-5inches long eat an Asolene Spixi or Mystery snail? My Mystery snaisl are rather large, and the Asolene Spixis are full grown.

Thanks!

[bslindgren]

Welcome to LOL! Please don't get loaches to deal with snails. Get loaches because you want to keep loaches. There are other ways to deal with snails, either by assassin snails or by controlling feeding (or both). Some loaches eat snails, but they won't solve a snail problem. You can check the species index for the requirement of each, but most of the species that would be considered for snails like to be in groups of at least five fish. Your tanks are too small for the vast majority of those. Sorry to be negative, but I really don't think that you would be happy with the result or fair to whatever loaches you might get.

[Stewey956]

Ahh, I figured they needed to be kept in small groups.

If I do end up getting loaches, will the Mystery snails be eaten?

[bslindgren]

I had lots of snail in a tank that had ten Botia kubotai and four clown loaches. I am sure they ate lots of snails, but it didn't get rid of the snails.

[Stewey956]

Ok, I understand your point on that now.

Will they harm the Mystery Snails I have?

[starsplitter7]

Yes, Loaches will eat your mystery snails and apple snails. They are indiscriminate. If they eat snails. Some don't eat snails at all.

[Emma Turner]

Yes, many loaches will attack the larger snails, usually starting with the eye stalks first. In most cases, it is not a good combination.

Loaches should not be looked upon as a clean up crew, most have very specific needs, and buying them solely for this purpose is not fair. When deciding that you'd like to keep loaches, the tank has to be built around their needs, not adding them as an afterthought to try and eradicate a snail problem. Have you looked into other methods of removal, such as traps or Assassin snails, which feed upon the 'pest' snails? This thread here details the Assassin snails: http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=12094.

Emma

[Stewey956]

I will be looking into these.

I will see if my local tropical fish store carries them.

My main worry is my Mystery snails, will these snails also go after the Mysteries?

[Emma Turner]

I would think it would depend on the size of the snails. I have seen them bothering medium sized Tylomelania snails and had to separate them. They would be a good solution if you have any tanks without the ornamental snails.

Emma

[Stewey956]

I am still pursuing the Loach idea, I have 10 gallons or so of room left in my 37G and want 3 or so 3-4inch loaches.

The snails I fave are tiny Dwarf Ramshorn.

I AM NOT SOLELY GETTIN THEM FOR THE SNAILS, its just an excuse to put more pretty fish in my tank. I would love Clowns, but they get too big for me.

I was looking at bottomfeeder type fish and noticed these beauties and their varieties.

I will be making a stop at AquaTek(LFS) to check out what they have, from what I known from my call last night, they have over 10 species of Loachs/Botias including Yoyos, Clowns, Skunks, Blue Botias, and more.

[starsplitter7]

Most people will advise you against Skunks, Blue Botia and Tigers in a community. They can be terrors. I have been lucky, but others have had them kill their fish. They also get big.

Histrionicas (sometimes called Gold Loaches) are really nice, look like Yoyos, but don't get as big and aren't as aggressive. But 37 gallons may be too small for them.

What other inhabitants do you have? Sids are really cool, active and great in a good group. They also stay small. B. striata (zebras), stay down to 4". They have a mixed reputation.

[Stewey956]

I am going to go have a look at what they have/recommend. They aren't Petsmart, they specialize in aquatics.

SO I will look at my options.