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After reading various threads on this website, I've bought kuhli (for being an entertaining fish to own) and chain loaches (for being good snail eaters, as I had quite a pest snail problem). First can I say great advice out there as neither loach has disappointed, in fact I'd like to add that I find the chain loaches just as entertaining to watch as the kuhlis, and they are my definite favourites in my tank.

However they have now done their job and my snail problem is now virtually gone, at the current rate the snails will be completely gone within a week. I'm now reading that all loaches enjoy a bit of snail in their diet, so will my guys be upset once the snails are gone? Is there a snail flavoured food available? Will they be fine just eating the usual food (by which I mean flakes, sinking tablets, freeze dried food and frozen food)?

What does everyone think?

They can live just fine on various fish foods especially sinking foods. My yoyos also love cucumber slices. If you want you can occasionally throw in some pest snails from a friend's tank or stores will usually gladly let you clean snails out of their tanks.

I agree. Your loaches will be fine eating regular food. Also, I have gotten many pest snails from chain stores (like WalMart) ^_^* I kept them as pets Anyway enjoy your loaches!

Inky

Nah, they wouldnt be disappointed, but u might be. I miss the sight of my clowns running around holding an empty snail shell in their mouths trying to hide from the other clowns but you can always supplement their diet with live worms and some pellets. They especially like a snack in the night, so give them some hikari sinking wafers, or algae wafers and some Tetra bits in the day time. My clowns, skunks, zebras and kuhlies dig this stuff.

Ditto on what everyone else has said, you could also try some zucchini, mine love it. You can put it in the microwave for a few seconds so that it will soften a little and sink or do as I do and attach it to a large rock with some rubber bands.

Hikari wafers and sinking shrimp pellets are other favourites.

They are so cool, I love Loaches ... enjoy them!

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

You can occationatly give them Snails. You can buy or get them free from your LFS. They will also eat any sinking foods, as stated in the previous posts.

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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com