Do fish eat snails?

Veno · 08-23-2007, 05:06 AM

I have an aquarium that used to have a wide variety of snail life. However the more fish I added, the fewer snails I seemed to have, until finally now only my largest snails have survived.

I've seen my eel-tailed (tandanus) catfish eating the snail eggs. My snails were always very rapid breeders, but with two tandanus in the tank, they eat the eggs faster than the snails could lay them. But could they be eating the actual adult snails themselves too?

Besides the tandanus, I also having sucking catfish, male guppies, and some cyprinid feeder fish. Are any of these species known to eat or kill snails?

Also, if so, is it possible to discourage them from doing so, possibly by overfeeding them or something?

Thanks!

royalty024 · 08-23-2007, 05:10 AM

Any cat fish will eat snail eggs and I don't think you can thwart their behavior since fish are so opportunistic. Over feeding can lead to pollution of the tank and may cause swim bladder problems and constipation. Survival of the fittest! You don't have any other fish that eat the eggs aside from the cats so I doubt the guppies are eating the larger ones. Tandanus get pretty big what size is the tank?

Dean M · 08-23-2007, 05:16 AM

I think you have answered your own question. Yes some fish eat snails.

I suggest you search the internet for fish compatibility charts they are everywhere and they will give you much information.

SILENT RY · 08-23-2007, 06:06 AM

idk maybe big ones

Do fish eat snails?

General Chat