Dwarf Puffers coexisting with snail population?

[Chaser]

Hi!

Just recently fell in love with carinotetraodon travancoricus, and are doing my due diligence.

I were wondering what experiences people have had introducing the dwarfs to heavily planted tanks with existing snail populations?

I have tadpole and gyraulus acronicus (small ramshorn?)-snails in budding populations.

I have 300 liters 120x50x50 cm where half is heavily planted and other lightly planted, and hope to keep both snails and 2-3 DP.

Otherwise have endlers, CPD and neocaridina-mix, as well as two not too longfinned bettas. They can be seen meeting in top of this picture of the well planted half:



For full size picture, and more of them, visit my forum-blog (in Norwegian). This one is in post # 97 on this page:
http://akvaforum.no/forum.cfm?thread_id ... r=1&msr=81

[Pufferpunk]

Snail-eating puffers will decimate snail populations in their tanks. They will nip at the fins of most fish.

[Chaser]

Do you actually mean eradicate? Decimate would be fine, as that would remove one out of ten

I hadn't given up hope as I've read several accounts of dwarfs living peacefully with several types of tankmates. The key seemed to be heavy planted, big tank and enough food to keep them happy every day. As I have the two first a live snail-colony in the tank are the bottom line for me; I don't want the eventual dwarves to go after my other inhabitants if they were several days without food, as will occationaly happen.

Your reply, though lacking in new data, seems to come from a very experienced dwarf-keeper so I'll put it on the already heavy DON'T DO IT-side of the scale. Thank you for you answer, and thank you for your efforts to spread good info on puffers!

Still interested in gathering a broad data-collection, so will be happy for any more answers

[sgtmyers88]

I had a ten gallon tank overrun with snails. I placed a single Dwarf Puffer in there and the population was reduced to marginal levels in a week.

[pufferjw]

The CPDs should be fine, but all of the other fish will most likely be attacked by the DPs.

[Pufferpunk]

Do you actually mean eradicate? Decimate would be fine, as that would remove one out of ten

Simple Definition of decimate

: to destroy a large number of (plants, animals, people, etc.)
: to severely damage or destroy a large part of (something)

[Chaser]

Origins of the expression decimate (deca = 10) are with the roman legions, where a severe punishment was to kill one of ten soldiers in a unit. Suits your definitions also, as 10% can be a rather large part, especially when considering they are your brothers in arms. The use of the word obviously has become less precise over the millennia But your answer still leaves open the possibility that a population of snails will survive in parts of the tank mostly inaccessible to the dwarfs and thus provide a continous food supply.

I'm overly fond of words and etymology, so I'm not trying to argue. Just enjoying myself

Would still love to hear from anyone with this experience in a planted tank! Thank you all for your answers so far!!

[bertie 83]

The snails will not last, there will be no areas for them to hide. They will be eradicated as will any other fish you choose to house with them