Any way to stop my Cichlids from eating my snails?!

I recently converted my 180L into a walstad tank, and have ramshorn/MTS/pond snails in there.

Eventually, I need to move the cichlids back to the tank (they're currently in a 120L) but I don't want them eating all my snails. So far, in the 120L, they've wiped out my entire colony of Pond/Ramshorn and MTS, and they did it in less than a day.

I'll admit, I'm somewhat reluctant to even move them to the 180L at this point, because I don't want them to eat all my snails.

Is there anything I can do to stop them eating them?!

* Ellioti Cichlids
* Polar Blue Convict Cichlids
* Apistogramma Cichlids

I have no idea which of them are eating my snails....

 

All three species eat snails. You can only stop them by removing them. Cichlids are also not the best choice of fish for a Walstad. I'd probably remove the Amatitlania and the Thorichthys. Both grow bigger than the Apistos and are longterm too much bioload for that type of tank.

 

All three species eat snails. You can only stop them by removing them.

HA! OK, well that answers that then!

Cichlids are also not the best choice of fish for a Walstad. I'd probably remove the Amatitlania and the Thorichthys. Both grow bigger than the Apistos and are longterm too much bioload for that type of tank.

I should clarify, although I said Walstad, both tanks are not filter-less. The 120L runs an internal Jewel filter, and the 180L a Fluval 407.

I just adopt Walstad for plant growth, not to get around having a filter (unless I'm experimenting with a small jar)

 

I just adopt Walstad for plant growth,

Probably adopt "low-tech planted" as the term to use, "Walstad" is a certain technique and its use will constantly give people wrong impressions.

I am aware though that you have a filter running. It's more about the fact that the fish will longterm outgrow the tank. Not by size but by space requirements.

 

Probably adopt "low-tech planted" as the term to use, "Walstad" is a certain technique and its use wil constantly give people wrong impressions.

hmm, now I may be wrong (it happens a lot), but it was my understanding that Diana Walstad recommends mechanical filtration in non-small tanks, so "Walstad" and "Filter-less" are not synonymous.

I am aware though, that you have a filter running. It's more about the fact that the fish will longterm outgrow the tank. Not by size but by space requirements.

The Ellioti's and Polar Blues will outgrow the 180?

 

hmm, now I may be wrong (it happens a lot), but it was my understanding that Diana Walstad recommends mechanical filtration in non-small tanks, so "Walstad" and "Filter-less" are not synonymous.

Yes. It's not about the filter. It's about the concept of adding as little as possible and very low stocking densities. Both species will become at least somewhat territorial and develop quite an appetite. They might tip the scales in the tank too far.

 

Isn’t the low stocking density only if you’re not running a filter and still keeping up with regular WCs?

 

Doesn't really matter, both fish would need 200 liter or more longterm.

 

I have a 180l tank and to be honest I would keep at the most one pair of cichlids of the size of the Elliotis in there, I am surprised you have not had more issues especially as I think you said they and the polar blue parrots have both been breeding. But going back to the snails, in my large tank I have some bigger cichlids than yours and they do eat snails. But every so often I find an extra large snail in one of my other tanks and drop it in the cichlid tank, and they seem to last a while, but of course can't breed successfully ( though I do find small ones living in the canister filters when I clean them out). My cichlids don't seem to eat snails that are bigger than about 1.5cm. So if you can grow a few big ramshorns in another tank you may be able to keep these with the cichlids. But I do agree that it may be better just to keep the Apistogrammas in that particular tank (they will still eat small snails). The other cichlids may well dig up your plants when they breed anyway.

 

It would be interesting to know which ones are eating the MTS. Are they actually crunching the shells?

 

My cichlids don't seem to eat snails that are bigger than about 1.5cm. So if you can grow a few big ramshorns in another tank you may be able to keep these with the cichlids.

I had some pretty big Ramshorns in there and they absolutely demolished them haha.

The only thing that manages to survive are big Nerite snails.

It would be interesting to know which ones are eating the MTS. Are they actually crunching the shells?

As far as I can tell, no shells are getting crushed. The snails remain in tact, so I’m assuming they are some how eating the insides.