We have a 20 gallon tank with guppies and platys, both adult and fry, with live plants and have a massive snail issue. We've been trying to pick them out as best we can, but there are just too many. Any suggestions?|||One of the more "fun" approaches might be to get three small loaches such as the Dwarf Loaches (Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki), Yoyo loaches (Botia almorhae), Zebra loaches (Botia striata) or Blue Botias (Yasuhikotakia modesta).
These loaches are famous for eating snails. They are also active and fun to watch. For the most part, they wouldn't crowd your livebearers. When the snails (useful in cleaning up uneaten food) are gone, the loaches will do some bottom cleaning.
Remember that almost no aquarium fish will eat fish droppings on the tank bottom. They need their own food too.
Your explosive multiplication of snails may be because you have been really over feeding your fish. (They become accomplished beggars and train us to do that.) Feed 1-2-3 times a day, but no more than can be cleaned up by the livebearers in 2-3 minutes.
Also take your gravel vacuum and clean about 1/3 of your gravel weekly. Replace that 1/3 to 1/2 of the water with clean, treated, "seasoned" water. Your livebearers will be even more healthy and beautiful.
Skunk loaches can be bullies and become territorial; don't get them.
Good luck and all the best!|||You could add some loaches if you have room for them in your tank, they are cool fish, they wont hurt any other fish, and most species will devour snails. Clown Loaches get way to big for your tank. I also think that yoyo loaches are too big for your tank. I have some full grown ones in my 55 gallon tank and they are almost 5 inches long. Kuhli loaches would fit but probably don't eat snails. consider a school of at least 4 zebra loaches, at least 6 chain loaches, or at least 5 zipper loaches.
You could try to get assassin snails, Ive heard mixed results about how well they will work to remove snails, and then if all the snails do get eaten, you have to feed the carnivorous assassins meat or they can die.|||It took me years to sort out snail problems.
The main reason they appear is over feeding!
Sadly there is no guaranteed method to get rid of snails, I got rid of them by reducing the amount of food I fed, picking them out and being very vigilant when introducing new fish into the tank, as often there will be a snail or eggs in the bags from the fish shop.
Species like Khuli Loaches help, as they will eat snail eggs.|||there are several ways to get rid of snails, but many involve the use of harsh chemicals. your two best options are:
get a small group of yoyo loaches. they love eating snails. clown loaches work too but they will get too large for your tank.
your other option is:
get a glass jar and put a lettuce leaf in the bottom
fill the jar full of aquarium water and sink it in the aquarium so that it lays on its side on the gravel
leave it in for 12-24 hours and the snails should crawl inside the jar to feed. then you can just take out the jar and dispose of the snails.
you should re-bait the trap every time you take the collected snails out. repeat this process for 4-5 days until most of the snails have been caught and disposed. if there are any remaining snails, you can usually pick them out by hand.
good luck!|||Hi, the most NATURAL and SAFE method is to throw in a few assasin snails. I think 8 would be good for that size tank. They may be pricey but its worth it. It will take a few months for them to completly eradicate them.|||1. reach hand into tank
2. pull snails out of tank
you're welcome. any other questions?
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