qestions about skunk botias.

[robnepper]

So, I'm looking into a good snail eater for the 20 and I was thinking about skunks. Who has had or does have them and are they community or not. I am coming across lots of conflicting stories on different sites. I was thinking of them since they apparently only get to about 4 inches. They would go in with the livebearers.

[toddnbecka]

They may work with livebearers, no competition for territory, but they are generally nasty buggers. They're also social fish, need to be kept in groups large enough to spread their aggression around so one doesn't get hassled to death. Assassin snails would be a better option for snail control in a 20, or simply baiting them with zucchini and picking them out by hand if you don't want to use copper.

[mac]

IMO a 20 is far to small for these fish. Since you would need at least 4 of them, that is a fair amount of medium size fish. Along with your live bearers.
You could try Kulie Loaches, although they are fairly slow with snails.


IMO I would try baiting for the snails.

Just one thing most times if you have a lot of snails i can be a over abundance of food. For example over feeding.

mac

[Crispy]

I totally agree with mac, 20 gallons is too small for skunk loaches...

[robnepper]

Thanks to all who replied. I will probably avoid them since they are social and the twenty isn't big enough to support that. My dwarf puffer was the best snailer I have ever seen! She had to go though. Down sized. Perhaps baiting will be the best optoin. I'm not sure where to get an assassin snails. It's not that I hate snails. I just don't like so many of them. I got some plants from a guy when I got my Amecas and so came the snails. I now have ram's horns and malasians.

[smaug]

Nothing but a puffer can put a dent in a malaysian snail population.My yoyos dont touch them,they cant get through the shells.Even my fig 8 puffer in the bw tank doesnt chew throught the shells but he is fast enough to get them through there opening.