The Puffer Forum

so we all feed snails to our puffers, they like the big ones but leave the small ones, +++++++++ = lots of small snails i put a trap in overnight and remove all tiny ones,does anyone have a miracle cure for keeping numbers down? its a lineatus puffer in the tank i leave next to no food scraps and vacuum substrate 3 x weekly (daily at mo till i no ick all gone grrr) any ideas? ahh 1 more question does anyone know where i can get live crayfish in the uk?

ok stupid question no such thing as a miracle cure, will not use chemicals use trap with novo tab in, any ideas which will cause less/zero impact on tank. also want to replace old eheim (previous massive leaks) any ideas? thanks peops

what type of puffer? Let the snails just grow up?

xrayjeeper83 wrote:what type of puffer? Let the snails just grow up?

+1

Do remember that snails grow in numbers and size depending on the food supply. No waste food or excess food, few or no snails. Snail poo is far less damaging to the water quality than rotting food. Puffers are messy eaters, waste food particles are a given. Those small snails are cleaning for you. If you have too much light and are getting algae, reduce the intensity or hours of light.

Waste and puffers are synonymous. My T. mbu and fahaka tanks all had small snails. T.hey are cleaning crew. They are friends, not foes. "Treating" to eradicate snails is guaranteed to damage the water quality, as will the then unconsumed food in the future. That is a lose-lose situation. The loser is your puffer, who may be endangered or damaged.

You cannot fool Mother Nature.

HTH

i would never use chemicals anyway, just want rid of some of the small ones will keep the trap going and continue to throw the big ones back. its not a big concern as there isnt masses of them as such, just really irritating.

MTS and common pond snails do tend to load a tank with masses of baby snails.

fast loaches and gouramis would be an idea for snail control. Ive heard of some people who have trumpet snail infestations that they take care of using small loaches and when the population is down where they want it, they return the loaches to their lfs

Gouramis?

just what ive heard. ive never had a snail problem so i cant say for sure. i would use loaches...or an assassin snail or two

thought about these just a little too cool or pretty to become dinner for a lineatus, plus hes on a strict eat every other day diet, except for snails of course but he wont eat them til they're about the size of a pea thanks tho. my lfs has some large clown loaches they adopted..... had to really think that one through lol

From my experience, Gouramis are not an effective snail eater. They may occasionally eat small ones(depending on the type of Gourami), but usually just stare at snails.