Aquarium - snail control?

[Dmitry_B]

Hello

Anyone here has a freshwater aquarium at home? We just got one a few weeks ago, and looks like snails are taking over

Any quick remedies to keep them under control. I'd like to avoid using chemicals - perhaps there's a hardy, snail-eating fish we can introduce, or some food we can drop in that attracts only snails? We already have a couple of bottom-feeders, but they don't touch snails.

Thanks in advance

Dmitry

[--mary--]

African Cichlids will eat the snails but if you have other stuff in there that you don't want to get eaten you will have to go a different route. Cichlids LOVE live food so if you have anything like tetras, loaches, barbs, mollies etc. they will most likely get eaten too.

When I got overrun by guppies I caught a bunch and traded them back to the pet store for free fish food and a few different fish. Maybe they will take snails too!

[eddie_fan4]

Well you can always use the dojo loach. Their really good with snails and love to eat them.

[mouse]

What about an algae eater?I would say the"proper"name but am unsure of it's spelling...We have a tank with 15 cichlids and the algae eater seems to take care of the tank...

[lmfinlay]

A red tailed botia (also known as a red tailed loach) is an excellent choice to get rid of snails. They have an insatiable appetite for the snails and will clear your tank of them quickly.