Any small snail-eating loaches?

Hi. I've just read that some species of the genus Botia (same genus as clown loaches) are also snail-hunting. I would love to hear more about such species for my 29G. Any experiences on these?

So so far, am short-listing:

• Yoyo loach (Botia almorhae)- 6in. Diggers. Quite some group in-fighting but nothing severe.
• Queen/Bengal loach (Botia dario) - 6in. Supposed to be very shy
• Burmese/golden zebra/silver-striped loach (Botia histrionica) - 5in. Placid, gregarious and curious. Not as shy as most botias. Minimum 60G! Good eaters.
• Polka dot loach (B. kubotai) - 5in. Undemanding and robust. Best in groups of 3 or more. Good eaters. Active and not strictly bottom dwellers. Very susceptible to ich
• Zebra loach (B. striata) - peaceful, needs at least 4 other, prefer sand. Need very clean, well aerated water. Prefer slightly acidic.

 

There is the dwarf loach, the skunk loach, the yo-yo loach and a few others, but dwarves stay small. The skunk gets really aggressive over time.
Tom

 

Thanks, Tom. Do they eat snails?

So my 'short' list gets longer:

• Skunk loach (Yasuhikotakia morleti) - 4in. Fine substrate. Clean and well aerated. Slightly acidic. Feisty. Not suitable for community aquariums. Group of 5 or more. Hide during the day. SNAIL eater, though.
• Dwarf loach (Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki) - 2.5in. Peaceful. Good for community aquarium. Soft sand substrate. Need some flow. Doesn't mind alkaline. Can eat snail? Excellent water quality. Daylight mid-depth shalling. Critically endangered species. Expensive. Must be kept in large numbers.

 

Thanks, Tom. Do they eat snails?

I know they have the ability to eat them, whether they do or not depends on how many snails and how you feed them other food.
Tom

 

Just about all the loaches that have the pointy snout(like clowns) will eat snails.
skunks are really aggressive in a group or out. Mine weren't named the "Brat Pack" for nothing. Finally they wound up in a species tank so they could squabble with just each other but boy could they eat snails
check out the nose shapes - Loaches I guess it just makes it easier to suck the snail out of the shell.
carol

 

Just about all the loaches that have the pointy snout(like clowns) will eat snails.
skunks are really aggressive in a group or out. Mine weren't named the "Brat Pack" for nothing. Finally they wound up in a species tank so they could squabble with just each other but boy could they eat snails
check out the nose shapes - Loaches I guess it just makes it easier to suck the snail out of the shell.
carol

Or just to get the mouth in there to be able to kill the snail and then with the muscle(s) relaxed, just pretty much suck it on out.
Tom

 

When my original clowns were tiny there was one who would run around with a snail on it's nose all the time. I was afraid it was stuck and I went to get it off and he would drop it and go back and get it after I left him alone. It looked so funny LOL
Carol

 

Thanks for your time and the info, Tom and Carol. Really useful stuff. I think I'll go for dwarf loaches.

 

Thanks for your time and the info, Tom and Carol. Really useful stuff. I think I'll go for dwarf loaches.

Whoopie!!!!! You know we'll need pics
carol

 

If I can find them, that is. Aren't they tricky to find? Plus I have NO IDEA what you call these in Dutch. I'll just google the latin name, then put that in the search on Google Netherlands I think.

 

If I can find them, that is. Aren't they tricky to find? Plus I have NO IDEA what you call these in Dutch. I'll just google the latin name, then put that in the search on Google Netherlands I think.

The latin name(scientific) is botia sidthimunki. Hope it helps.
Tom

 

Just got them. Thanks SO much for the suggestion, Tom. The guy sold me 5 for the price of 4. Dont' ask me how much that was. I was so excited I didn't pay attention, LOL.

I've just acclimated them. They're REALLY fast swimmers. I hope they calm down.

Also, do you think they'll attack my zebra snail? It's bigger than them right now, but if you think they will, then I'll need to move him. Shame, he's the only creature on earth (humans included, LOL) who can get rid of green spot algae.

 

Just got them. Thanks SO much for the suggestion, Tom. The guy sold me 5 for the price of 4. Dont' ask me how much that was. I was so excited I didn't pay attention, LOL.

I've just acclimated them. They're REALLY fast swimmers. I hope they calm down.

Also, do you think they'll attack my zebra snail? It's bigger than them right now, but if you think they will, then I'll need to move him. Shame, he's the only creature on earth (humans included, LOL) who can get rid of green spot algae.

I know I paid about $3 for each one so it was fun. But ya, they are really fast swimmers and should calm down(slow down a little) when they get used to the tank. They might try to attack it, but if the snail has a cover to completely hide in, the snail should be fine. It is up to you if you want to move it to another tank.
Tom

 

Mmmm. I'll have to think about this one.

The snail's opperculum (that little lid thing) got damaged. So he's at risk I guess.

Actually, now they're doing patterns. It's really impressive. They shoot upward in a column, and back down. Really synchronized, as if they were one fish.

 

I'm so jealous I'm bursting to get mine but need to resolve my fish with bottom jaw missing issues.I will look forward to some pics.Ive been to check my lfs still has some today and there numbers are getting smaller! Shop man said he'd been after gettin some for three years,if they all go hope it don't take that long again!

 

Actually I asked my shop guy if they were getting them often, and he said yes. To think I thought I'd have to scout around every fish store in the area for months.

 

Actually I asked my shop guy if they were getting them often, and he said yes. To think I thought I'd have to scout around every fish store in the area for months.

I guess you got lucky.
Tom

 

Well he's saying they're really quite common over here.

 

Well he's saying they're really quite common over here.

Just a thought, did you buy anything else when you got them? If not, just divide the total bill by 4 and you have the price of each loach.
Tom

 

ha ha haaa! Tom's investigative tricks, LOL .

But I bought lots. I've decided to start purchasing really good heaters, so I am purchasing these one at a time (budget). Also got some nets as I want a different fish net per tank. Oh, and I bought this really cool plant (kind of a lotus) for my betta tank.

Not a bad Friday, my friends, not a bad Friday at all.

 

Then take the total bill and subtract all the stuff you got and then divide it by 4, it isn't that difficult. Wait, doesn't the bill specify what each item cost?
Tom

 

And now you're assuming I still have the bill? I'm the world's most disorganised person when it comes to finances.

 

And now you're assuming I still have the bill? I'm the world's most disorganised person when it comes to finances.

I have all of my pet recipts but in a huge mess on my comp desk right in front of me.
Tom

 

Wanna become my accountant when you're out of school? I must warn you, I'll forget to pay you, LOL.

 

Congrats on the "Sids"!!!!! I know you will just love them
The name had been changed but the LFS still go by the old one more the new name is
Yasuhikotakia sidthimunkI
Carol

 

Thanks, Carol. They're VERY entertaining fish. I do not regret my purchase, and I definitely don't regret buying 5, instead of the original 3 I was thinking about.

 

Thanks, Carol. They're VERY entertaining fish. I do not regret my purchase, and I definitely don't regret buying 5, instead of the original 3 I was thinking about.

Glad your enjoying them With loaches if you have the room (and you did) the more you have the better it is.
Carol