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Hi. I raise baby snails & have brought them into my 72 gl tank. Its been about a few wks & I'm sure the babies are hiding in the gravel BUTTTT
I was cleaning my tank & when one of my Bumblebee catfish swam by me it was VERY swollen around its belly. I thought PREGO then second thought- OH my poor snails!! My two bC only come out at night along with my bristlenose pleco so I started leaving the tank lights on at night & off in the day. It has seemed to have worked so far(as I am noticing more baby snails). I have not to seen my BC since the last cleaning & I am just assuming that the second BC was as swollen as the first.
Does anyone have any experience with these BC? Any advice? I do know that BC will eat anything they can fit in their mouths but they are not that big.
Snails are not a good tasting treat so I thought it would be safe. I have found internet info that BC have never been breed in captivity....!?!
TINA

Actually, snails taste very good...

I have never personally kept Bumblebee Catfish, but a wide range of species of fish are snail eaters. There are a number of species that dine almost specifically on shelled mollusks. I wouldn't put it past them to eat the snails up.

Last edited by Shinigami at 01-May-2005 18:20

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

If it is the Asian Bumblebee catfish, then I have no doubt they have been munching on your snails. In the wild, they generally feed on insects and aquatic crustaceans, and I'm not surprised at all if they sneak a snail or two in between feedings.

Joe Potato