AquariumsDownUnder   View topic - Kuhli Loaches do they eat snails?

Hi, I got a pond snail problem in my 2ft setup, last estimate about 200 and rising. In with them at the moment is 10 Neons, 10 Harlequins, 1 sucking catfish and 1 Golden Mystery snail about golfball size. Q: How do I get rid of the pond snails without hurting Goldie? I'd put some Clowns in but not sure what theyd do with Goldie, would she be a gonner? Also clowns would outgrow the 2ft at some point leaving another problem to deal with. Ive heard that Kuhlis eat snail eggs and freshly hatched snails thereby eventually controlling the population, but have been unable to confirm this. Does anyone know if this is true, or are there any other fish out there that might suit.

Clowns wouldnt hurt your goldfish they are slow growing and would take a few years to out grow a 2 foot. Kuhlis dont get as big as clowns but will still grow reasonably large. Kuhlis love snails and are more then able to knock over your snail problem in a few days.

i've got a pair of largish kuhlis in a 4 foot and snail eggs everywhere are they are not getting touched. so i personally would go for a clown

My Kuhlis would not touch the snails until I got some Angelicus loaches and now that the Angelicus loaches are going after them the Kuhlis have started like they needed to be shown how. But until then they did not touch them. Hope that helps. If you have room for Clowns I would try them, lucky you. I did not have the room for them but the Angelicus fit my tank fine. They are entertaining and kind of cute.

So thats 1 yes, 1 no and 1 maybe on the kuhli question...lmao thanks for confusing me. Also got a standard 4ft still cycling at the moment so iam able to get the clowns knowing i have the room but still unsure if they'd hassle the big golden snail. My stocking plan also didnt include clowns but they are an awesome fish so i might have to squeeze them in at the expense of something else. Might get some kuhlis too i never kept them b4, though arent they meant to be houdinis for leaving the tank? The cat would love that.

I have 4 clown loachs in a tank with some golden snails. Their not golf ball sized, their smaller. The clown loachs have never harmed them in any way. Try the clown loachs

Clown Loaches and Pakistani/Yoyo Loaches will take care of any snails. I add snails every now and then to give the loaches a treat!

Kuhli Loaches don't seem to bother snails of any size.

Loaches only seem to go for snails when they are still small, once they get larger they tend to shy away from snails..... Go the clowns then get rid of them when you are snail free!!

Hi elberto

Did read that the Kuhlis do eat snails or at the very least the eggs and the babies, keeping the population down. You should have a group of them. Same with the clowns - they really need to be in a group of about 5 to be truely happy. From what I have read I would think that as the clowns get bigger they will definately go after the Golden Snail.

I have 6 Khulis (I think - they are excellent hiders), 5 Clowns, 7 Chain (dwarf) Loaches and 7 YO Yos - I have NO snails.

Here are a few links to "Loaches on line" - great species info site for Loaches.

Yo Yos: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-almorhae
Clowns: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/cl ... cracanthus
Kuhlis: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/pangio-kuhlii

Hope this helps.

hey mate i had the same problem as you, i have red cherry shrimp in my tank so i could not treat them with copper. So i puchased a clown loach he has now knocked the snail population from a couple of hundred to a handfull in just a week