Loaches Online Forum

Ok I have a 55 gallon tank with just a few fish in it...2 Black Veil Tetras, 1 Pleco, 2 catfish, and a BaliShark...anyway...we also have snails tons of them and don't know how in the world they got there ...so I asked someone how to get rid of these and they said buy some Clown Loaches...so I go the the pet store and get two of what they call clown loaches...but I get them and they look more like eels...the stipes are yellow and kind of magenta shine...but they look like eels...long skinny things not like the pics you have posted on clown loaches...so what are these things and will they eat the snails?
They are only about an inch long and really skinny buggers...tiny mouths...to me it looks like the snails could whip their butts....lol

Hi AlexisLeann and welcome to Loaches Online!

I have to say that it really does annoy me how most shops only seem to recommend clown loaches for snail eradication. As you have probably seen from our profile, they will need a much bigger aquarium than a 55 gallon. From your description, it sounds as if they have sold you some sort of Kuhli loach (Pangio sp.) as these are very eel-like and some species are striped. If these are what you have, they will probably have little to no effect on your snails. Your best bet would be to try and get hold of a smaller species of Botia such as the peaceful Botia striata, as these will eat the snails and not grow too large. http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-striata You'll want at least 3 of these, and preferably 5+ as they are a naturally shoaling species and do best with company of their own kind. Come to that, the store should not have just sold you 2 fish today, whether they thought they were clown loaches, or whether they ended up being Kuhli loaches. Both species need to be kept in groups. It might be worth finding yourself a better aquatics store for future purchases!

Emma

yes, sounds alot like khulis to me..

do you know what kind of catfish you have?
if you have ever gotten any live plants, thats where the snails came from..


-brett.

Yes I read that they need to be in larger groups...if someone who belongs to this group and lives anywhere near me has these and wants these two for free to put into their group ...just let me know...you can come fish them out of my tank...is there a good place online that sells those loaches you just told me to get, we have limited resources here as you've already guessed in fish suppliers...lol
The cats I have are one Cory cat or thats what they said it is and one pretty cat that has whiskers longer then it's body...it's silver with very striking black markings...he's gotten rather large in just a few months since I got him...he can lift my large plastic bell thing in my tank....I don't know what kind he is.

I have no live plants but we did buy bigger shelf type coral rocks...not realcoral but fresh water rocks like to make caves...I also had one pet store lady tell me you can get snails by having a new fish who's ingested snail larva poop them into your tank...to be honest I have no clue if snail have larva or even if fish could poop em out...I have a fewfish don't know their names, I feed them and they look pretty....fish like houseplants are mostly a mystery to me...I do however breed Chihuahuas and I do know those quite well..if you'd like to see my dogs...Not as pretty as fish...but cute all the same... http://viankennels.tripod.com
I also own or breed some types of birds...LoveBirds, Cockateils, Quakers, Finch, Some Conures Types, Severe Macaws, and Congo Greys.

Is this your catfish?

Picture: Badmans Tropical Fish

Whereabouts are you? If you want someone to take the fish, you need to please state your location.

Martin.

yep thats one of my cats...mine I think is abit bigger though.
I'm located in Michigan between Lansing and Jackson.

I was informed yesterday by some fish guy that this cat is going to grow huge huge and eat any and all fish i try to add to my tank...not that i want to add any the 4 or 5 I have is all I wanted...the only reason I bought those loaches I was just talking about is to get rid of the snails...oh I tried a thing I read online about floating a washed leaf of lettuce in the tank for the snails to adhear to...well it kinda works...but the problem is the lettuce goes to one corner and only the snails at the top of the tank inthat corner will get on it....so I'm only removing like three or four at a time...this is gonna take forever...lol
I don't want to add that snail killing stuff cause I'm affraid for my fish.
And I have no clue where to find the zebra loachs.

Pimelodus pictus only grows to about 5 or 6 inches. They'll eat anything big enough to fit in their mouths. Your bigger problem is your "Bali" shark.
This is probably a "Bala" shark,

Balantiocheilus melanopterus. These can grow to 16" quite easily and require a huge tank. A 55 is totally insufficient. The Pleco is going to get big too.

As regards the snails, extricating them by a bait is more efficient if you know which species you're dealing with and bait accordingly.

Martin.

Also try sinking the lettuce/cucumber/whatever to the bottom, or weight it with a steel knife, fork, something. Garlic soaked cucumber works great on Malaysian Trumpet snails. there are actually more inside this cucumber than outside. They ate their way into the center. Just make sure you hold a net underneath it when you take it out because as soon as you move it many will just disconnect and drop off.



Here's a page with various snail info:
http://www.applesnail.net/content/snails_various.php

It will help to know what kind of snail you have in the tank.

no the snails I have are black very very tiny and very round in the shell, like the shell all sits on top of them.
And ok the store once again didn't get it right ... about what kind pof shark it is ...they told me Bali (they had them labeled Bali not Bala)...but mine is a black bodied shark with deep red fins...sorry if I sound stupid, he's about the length of my palm.

my snails look mostly like this shell shape but maybe darker...
Family Viviparidae
Thye don't look anything like those other snails listed

Rainbow shark:



Viviparidae pics HERE

yes that is the shark I have...thats him alright.

you know what these snails really love is those sinking disc I put in there to feed the Pleco...they all just run to those discs..well as fast as snails can run anyway and coat them entirely. But you can't get the discs up without them breaking right apart and snails falling all over.