snail

[weileong]

Initially when I discovered that my tanks has snails, it was because it is so bad that they were crawling around the tank, everywhere. I told myself to ignore them cos very difficult to fight them. As the days goes but you cannot tahan because after work you go back relax to look at your tank but all you see if all the nasty snails, kinda like pretty gal but got bad pimple on the face.

I also start to crush, then my tetra loved them, took them out and throw away, all sorts of trick, finally got puffer but end up die for no reasons. It went after my fish instead of the snails Then got 5 crown loaches and managed to keep the population down....

Now I wanna get rid of them once and for all

For the puffer I think as advise here by some brothers to go for small ones and not those figure of eight type as they will attack your fish???

[jacian]

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On 11/12/2002 10:33:47 AM

But if we do get a puffer to help, which species works best against snails? Would be glad of any advice. Thanks!

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Just get those small little puffer

[hatchet]

For me, I just keep a dwarf puffer. There are still snails but they only come out at night to play(or rather when the lights are out). Personally (my own taste), some snails are nice to have, they make the environment natural. But of course if yours are overpopulated, introduce 3 to 4 puffers but after the snail population is controlled, remove the rest and keep only one. If not (from my experience), they start eating fish tail and shrimp legs.

[Allen_1971]

Yep thats the puffer... (See the pic Jacian posted). Locally they call them lan(2) yan(3) guai(4). literally translated as blue eyed monster... haha I could be wrong...

[bclee]

My personal favorite for snail control are rams. Beautiful fish, peaceful and no fin nipping. Rams will eat flake food when puffer only eat frozen or live food.

They will wipe out the small snails while leaving the larger ones. They will keep the snails in check but not totally eradicate them.

BC

[Allen_1971]

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On 11/12/2002 12:07:04 PM

My personal favorite for snail control are rams. Beautiful fish, peaceful and no fin nipping. Rams will eat flake food when puffer only eat frozen or live food.

They will wipe out the small snails while leaving the larger ones. They will keep the snails in check but not totally eradicate them.

BC
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Actually for me its exactly because puffers don't eat flake food that I find them so effective. My current setup contains mainly fishes which take flake food... as such, I know my flakes are getting eaten by the fish I intend (with the except of SAEs). I only give some frozen blood worms every few days as a treat... So if puffer wants to eat, puffer has to eat snails.

[bclee]

I see.

For me, I only feed flakes, pellets and FD foods. When I started the hobby, I caused my puffers to starve to death not knowing that they need live or frozen food. For those who plan to keep puffers should know their feed habit and not make the same mistake I made.

The only thing I dislike about keeping puffers is their habit of nipping the fins of other fishes. Food is secondary.

BC

[budak]

As an alternative to clown loaches which grow large, Lam Hong LFS (AMK Ave 4) has small (one inch) tiger loaches for $2. Very cute!

See this site: http://www.loaches.com/botiahist.shtml

[amidala]

Hi Jacian,

Thanks for the pic - useful reference! But when I check out these puffers in LFS's they often have tattered and torn tails (nipped by their fellow puffers in the tank) - sooo difficult to find nice ones which are whole. Any recommendations of LFS with "good quality" puffers?

[]

[Simon]

the thing abt choosing puffer, always find the most
timid one in the tank. perfect fin in the whole tank,
could mean that he/she is a big bully. And u dun really
want him/her in yr community tank.

[amidala]

Hi Simon,

That makes sense! Haha, never thought of that! Thanks for the tip