newbie with surprise in the tank

[edie]

We recently purchased a 20 gallon tank. It is planted and
currently has a gourami, 2 platies, 2 rainbow tetras, one
swordtail and 2 tiny albino catfish. The tank has been
running about a month and everything seems fine. About two
weeks ago we noticed some small snails on the plants. I
guess they hitched a ride on the plants from the LFS.

Here is my question/problem. The snails are starting to
reproduce. This morning there were 4 tiny babies on the
glass. I don't see them now and frankly I am hoping they
were eaten. How fast do the snails reproduce? What can I
do to prevent a population explosion?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Edie

[Dave S]

I have the same problem - I visited my LFS today and they advised buying 5 x
Clown Loaches. They're in the aquarium now but I'm not sure yet how
effective they will be.

HTH - Dave

--
www.aegis.uk.com
"edie" > wrote in message
...
> We recently purchased a 20 gallon tank. It is planted and
> currently has a gourami, 2 platies, 2 rainbow tetras, one
> swordtail and 2 tiny albino catfish. The tank has been
> running about a month and everything seems fine. About two
> weeks ago we noticed some small snails on the plants. I
> guess they hitched a ride on the plants from the LFS.
>
> Here is my question/problem. The snails are starting to
> reproduce. This morning there were 4 tiny babies on the
> glass. I don't see them now and frankly I am hoping they
> were eaten. How fast do the snails reproduce? What can I
> do to prevent a population explosion?
>
> Thank you in advance for your responses.
>
> Edie
>
>

[Harry Muscle]

"Dave S" > wrote in message
- .de...
> I have the same problem - I visited my LFS today and they advised buying 5
x
> Clown Loaches. They're in the aquarium now but I'm not sure yet how
> effective they will be.
>
> HTH - Dave
>
> --
> www.aegis.uk.com
> "edie" > wrote in message
> ...
> > We recently purchased a 20 gallon tank. It is planted and
> > currently has a gourami, 2 platies, 2 rainbow tetras, one
> > swordtail and 2 tiny albino catfish. The tank has been
> > running about a month and everything seems fine. About two
> > weeks ago we noticed some small snails on the plants. I
> > guess they hitched a ride on the plants from the LFS.
> >
> > Here is my question/problem. The snails are starting to
> > reproduce. This morning there were 4 tiny babies on the
> > glass. I don't see them now and frankly I am hoping they
> > were eaten. How fast do the snails reproduce? What can I
> > do to prevent a population explosion?
> >
> > Thank you in advance for your responses.
> >
> > Edie
> >

Clown loaches are great for a large tank (50G+) but won't work for a 20G.
They can get big after some time, plus need to be kept in a group of at
least 3.

Harry




-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

[Dave S]

Harry - How effective are they at keeping the snail population down?

--
www.aegis.uk.com
"Harry Muscle" > wrote in message
...
> "Dave S" > wrote in message
> - .de...
> > I have the same problem - I visited my LFS today and they advised buying
5
> x
> > Clown Loaches. They're in the aquarium now but I'm not sure yet how
> > effective they will be.
> >
> > HTH - Dave
> >
> > --
> > www.aegis.uk.com
> > "edie" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > We recently purchased a 20 gallon tank. It is planted and
> > > currently has a gourami, 2 platies, 2 rainbow tetras, one
> > > swordtail and 2 tiny albino catfish. The tank has been
> > > running about a month and everything seems fine. About two
> > > weeks ago we noticed some small snails on the plants. I
> > > guess they hitched a ride on the plants from the LFS.
> > >
> > > Here is my question/problem. The snails are starting to
> > > reproduce. This morning there were 4 tiny babies on the
> > > glass. I don't see them now and frankly I am hoping they
> > > were eaten. How fast do the snails reproduce? What can I
> > > do to prevent a population explosion?
> > >
> > > Thank you in advance for your responses.
> > >
> > > Edie
> > >
>
> Clown loaches are great for a large tank (50G+) but won't work for a 20G.
> They can get big after some time, plus need to be kept in a group of at
> least 3.
>
> Harry
>
>
>
>
> -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
> http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
> -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

[KEITH JENNINGS]

For snail control, clown loaches are some of the best. They eat all the
snails up to grape size, and sometimes eat the larger ones too. Three of
them ate all of the roughly 500 snails in my 40 gallon breeder tank in about
a week.
Now I take snails from my other tanks to feed them.

They do grow pretty big and need a large tank though... 40 gallons plus.

Keith J.

"Dave S" > wrote in message
...
> Harry - How effective are they at keeping the snail population down?
>

[edie]

KEITH JENNINGS wrote in message ...
>For snail control, clown loaches are some of the best. They
eat all the
>snails up to grape size, and sometimes eat the larger ones
too. Three of
>them ate all of the roughly 500 snails in my 40 gallon
breeder tank in about
>a week.
>Now I take snails from my other tanks to feed them.
>
>They do grow pretty big and need a large tank though... 40
gallons plus.
>
>Keith J.



Ok. So what should I do in my 20 gallon tank if the clown
loaches are going to get too big for my current set up? Are
there other fish that like to eat tiny snails?

Edie

[axemanchris]

"KEITH JENNINGS" > wrote in message
...
> For snail control, clown loaches are some of the best. They eat all the
> snails up to grape size, and sometimes eat the larger ones too. Three of
> them ate all of the roughly 500 snails in my 40 gallon breeder tank in
about
> a week.
> Now I take snails from my other tanks to feed them.
>
> They do grow pretty big and need a large tank though... 40 gallons plus.
>
Mine seem to be choosy about the sort of snails they like. I have 3 clown
loaches & a very large trumpet snail population. Even thought my loaches
aren't very (2") big, they did manage, between the 3 of them, to polish off
an apple snail that was bigger around than a quarter. Do I have spoiled
fish or is there a definite preference?

Jacqui

[Paul Murray]

In article >, edie wrote:
> KEITH JENNINGS wrote in message ...
>>For snail control, clown loaches are some of the best. They
> eat all the
>>snails up to grape size, and sometimes eat the larger ones
> too. Three of
>>them ate all of the roughly 500 snails in my 40 gallon
> breeder tank in about
>>a week.
>>Now I take snails from my other tanks to feed them.
>>
>>They do grow pretty big and need a large tank though... 40
> gallons plus.
>>
> Ok. So what should I do in my 20 gallon tank if the clown
> loaches are going to get too big for my current set up? Are
> there other fish that like to eat tiny snails?

A smaller, but less pretty, snail eater is the zebra loach
(botia striata)

[Andy Hill]

"edie" > wrote:
>KEITH JENNINGS wrote in message ...
>>For snail control, clown loaches are some of the best. They
>eat all the
>>snails up to grape size, and sometimes eat the larger ones
>too. Three of
>>them ate all of the roughly 500 snails in my 40 gallon
>breeder tank in about
>>a week.
>>Now I take snails from my other tanks to feed them.
>>
>>They do grow pretty big and need a large tank though... 40
>gallons plus.
>>
>
>Ok. So what should I do in my 20 gallon tank if the clown
>loaches are going to get too big for my current set up? Are
>there other fish that like to eat tiny snails?
>
A lot of the other loaches will all eat small snails. I'm partial to Yoyo
Loaches in a smallish tank -- as long as they're not overfed, it'll take them a
*long* time (if ever) to outgrow a 20g tank. Like the Clowns, they like
company (a group of 3 in a 20g is a nice number), and they like to have places
to hide.

[edie]

Andy Hill wrote in message
>...
>A lot of the other loaches will all eat small snails. I'm
partial to Yoyo
>Loaches in a smallish tank -- as long as they're not
overfed, it'll take them a
>*long* time (if ever) to outgrow a 20g tank. Like the
Clowns, they like
>company (a group of 3 in a 20g is a nice number), and they
like to have places
>to hide.

Thank you very much for your advice. Thankfully, we are
stocking the tank very slowly so there is room for a few
more.

Edie

[Tedd Jacobs]

"edie" wrote...

> Are
> there other fish that like to eat tiny snails?

i dont know if there is any documented proof of it, but ADF's (african dwarf
frogs) seem to do very well and keeping a snail population from reproducing. i
am yet to see any snails reproduce in a tank where i have ADF's, tanks where i
dont have ADF's the snails reproduce quite rapidly.

tedd.

[Victor Martinez]

edie wrote:
> Thank you very much for your advice. Thankfully, we are
> stocking the tank very slowly so there is room for a few
> more.

I would also advise getting Botia striata (go to loaches.com for species
description) instead of yoyo loaches. They are just the right size for a
20g tank.

--
Victor Martinez
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Andy Hill]

Victor Martinez > wrote:
>edie wrote:
>> Thank you very much for your advice. Thankfully, we are
>> stocking the tank very slowly so there is room for a few
>> more.
>
>I would also advise getting Botia striata (go to loaches.com for species
>description) instead of yoyo loaches. They are just the right size for a
>20g tank.
>
IMHO, it's Tweedledum vs. Tweedledee -- Yoyos and Zebra loaches both have
basically the same max size and the same habits. They both have interesting
markings...just different. They're both really cool fish.

[coelacanth]

"edie" > wrote in message
...
<snip>
> Ok. So what should I do in my 20 gallon tank if the clown
> loaches are going to get too big for my current set up? Are
> there other fish that like to eat tiny snails?
>
> Edie
>
Now this is a newbie question! The answer is you'll
keep the loaches until you are forced, FORCED to
buy a second larger tank. The good news is that,
(unlike Plecos), Clown Loaches grow slowly, taking
more than a decade to reach breeding size. So start
saving money for that 150 tank gallon now!

-coelacanth

[Victor Martinez]

Andy Hill wrote:
> IMHO, it's Tweedledum vs. Tweedledee -- Yoyos and Zebra loaches both have
> basically the same max size and the same habits. They both have interesting

I'm pretty sure yoyos are at least 1" bigger than zebras.

--
Victor Martinez
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[NetMax]

"Victor Martinez" > wrote in message
.. .
> Andy Hill wrote:
> > IMHO, it's Tweedledum vs. Tweedledee -- Yoyos and Zebra loaches both
have
> > basically the same max size and the same habits. They both have
interesting
>
> I'm pretty sure yoyos are at least 1" bigger than zebras.

My understanding is that the more agressive and carnivorous the loach,
the better snailer it is, but potentially a bigger nuisance in the tank.
Between Clowns & Yoyos, the Clowns are much better snailers (comparing
the fish at exactly the same size). The occasional Clown is a poor
snailer, while the occasional Yoyo is a good snailer. I'm going to try
Zebra loaches (striata) next time I have them.

Regarding size, I've seen Yoyos & Zebras described as being identical in
size, but in my experience, Yoyos grow larger than Zebras. JMO

NetMax

> --
> Victor Martinez
> Send your spam here:
> Email me here:
>

[edie]

coelacanth wrote in message ...

>Now this is a newbie question! The answer is you'll
>keep the loaches until you are forced, FORCED to
>buy a second larger tank.

HA!! My husband has already caught me wandering around the
house looking for a spot suitable for a much larger tank!

Edie
>

[Reg]

NetMax wrote:
> "Victor Martinez" > wrote in message
> .. .
>
>>Andy Hill wrote:
>>
>>>IMHO, it's Tweedledum vs. Tweedledee -- Yoyos and Zebra loaches both
>
> have
>
>>>basically the same max size and the same habits. They both have
>
> interesting
>
>>I'm pretty sure yoyos are at least 1" bigger than zebras.
>
>
> My understanding is that the more agressive and carnivorous the loach,
> the better snailer it is, but potentially a bigger nuisance in the tank.
> Between Clowns & Yoyos, the Clowns are much better snailers (comparing
> the fish at exactly the same size). The occasional Clown is a poor
> snailer, while the occasional Yoyo is a good snailer. I'm going to try
> Zebra loaches (striata) next time I have them.
>
> Regarding size, I've seen Yoyos & Zebras described as being identical in
> size, but in my experience, Yoyos grow larger than Zebras. JMO
>
> NetMax
>
>
>>--
>>Victor Martinez
>>Send your spam here:
>>Email me here:
>>
>
>
>

I have Yo-yos (botia almorhae) and zebra (striata) in the same tank. My
Zebras are MUCH smaller than my yo-yo's. 1/2 the length and probably 1/5
the mass. I would suppose they're getting close to full grown after 2y
as neither species has grown much in the past year. For what it's worth
the zebras seem to be slightly better snailers. Yo-yo's are more fun to
watch (when they're out). I've seen clown loaches of more than 12" in
the local LFS, wild-caught but if you were to put 3 in a 20g tank, I
think they'd outgrow it within a year.

Reg

[T]

"High Flight" > wrote in message
...
> edie > says...
> > We recently purchased a 20 gallon tank. It is planted and
> > currently has a gourami, 2 platies, 2 rainbow tetras, one
> > swordtail and 2 tiny albino catfish. The tank has been
> > running about a month and everything seems fine. About two
> > weeks ago we noticed some small snails on the plants. I
> > guess they hitched a ride on the plants from the LFS.
> >
> > Here is my question/problem. The snails are starting to
> > reproduce. This morning there were 4 tiny babies on the
> > glass. I don't see them now and frankly I am hoping they
> > were eaten. How fast do the snails reproduce? What can I
> > do to prevent a population explosion?
>
> You might not be able to prevent them from reproducing, but you may be
> abale to control their numbers by doing the "snail squish" and turn the
> accessible ones into fishfood.
>
> Jack
>
> --
> *Top-posters are generally ignored*
> aka Keet Visit my webpage at http://junior.apk.net/~jac/
> "Always proofread to see if you any words."
>

Heck, I just reach into the the tank and squish the snails, and let the
local residents eat whats left... Mind you, I just have my africans cichlid
tanks up for now, never have a snail problem with these guys...

Timmer..

[Paul S. Walsh]

I had the same problem in my 3 month old 12 Gallon tank and I had it bad.
They had hitched ride into the tank in the root system of some Hygrophila
Panspermia I brought home from the LFS and I began to find and remove
several a day.

2 Yoyo Loaches did the trick. It only took them about 3 days. I have not
seen snail one for about a month now - and the Yoyos rock!

-Paul S. Walsh
http://www.valariekeaton.com/aquarium/



"edie" > wrote in message
...
> We recently purchased a 20 gallon tank. It is planted and
> currently has a gourami, 2 platies, 2 rainbow tetras, one
> swordtail and 2 tiny albino catfish. The tank has been
> running about a month and everything seems fine. About two
> weeks ago we noticed some small snails on the plants. I
> guess they hitched a ride on the plants from the LFS.
>
> Here is my question/problem. The snails are starting to
> reproduce. This morning there were 4 tiny babies on the
> glass. I don't see them now and frankly I am hoping they
> were eaten. How fast do the snails reproduce? What can I
> do to prevent a population explosion?
>
> Thank you in advance for your responses.
>
> Edie
>
>

[Jim Morcombe]

Everyone assumes that when your clown loach grows too big you have to get a
new tank.

Whats wrong with taking it back to the LFS and swapping it for two small
clown loaches?

Jim


T > wrote in message
hlink.net...
>
> "High Flight" > wrote in message
> ...
> > edie > says...
> > > We recently purchased a 20 gallon tank. It is planted and
> > > currently has a gourami, 2 platies, 2 rainbow tetras, one
> > > swordtail and 2 tiny albino catfish. The tank has been
> > > running about a month and everything seems fine. About two
> > > weeks ago we noticed some small snails on the plants. I
> > > guess they hitched a ride on the plants from the LFS.
> > >
> > > Here is my question/problem. The snails are starting to
> > > reproduce. This morning there were 4 tiny babies on the
> > > glass. I don't see them now and frankly I am hoping they
> > > were eaten. How fast do the snails reproduce? What can I
> > > do to prevent a population explosion?
> >
> > You might not be able to prevent them from reproducing, but you may be
> > abale to control their numbers by doing the "snail squish" and turn the
> > accessible ones into fishfood.
> >
> > Jack
> >
> > --
> > *Top-posters are generally ignored*
> > aka Keet Visit my webpage at http://junior.apk.net/~jac/
> > "Always proofread to see if you any words."
> >
>
> Heck, I just reach into the the tank and squish the snails, and let the
> local residents eat whats left... Mind you, I just have my africans
cichlid
> tanks up for now, never have a snail problem with these guys...
>
> Timmer..
>
>

[NetMax]

"Jim Morcombe" > wrote in message
...
> Everyone assumes that when your clown loach grows too big you have to
get a
> new tank.
>
> Whats wrong with taking it back to the LFS and swapping it for two
small
> clown loaches?
>
> Jim

Exactly, and along the same lines, instead of common plecos which grow
huge, buy Sailfin Gibbicep plecos. The Gibbiceps also grow huge, but
they are much more attractive and unusual, making them much easier to
trade into your LFS for a new smaller version.

NetMax