My trop tank has been taken over by pest snails. They are cute, but there are waayyyy too many of them. I bought the Had-A-Snail treatment to use, but on the package it says to use caution when used in the presence of catfish. So would it be okay to treat with my common pleco in there? He is about 6" long. I know he is not technically a catfish, but I still want to be sure before I subject him to anything.

I read in another post Bettaqueen said to try using aquarium salt in the water, but I already do that. I have platies and mollies in that tank, and they prefer slightly brackish water. I keep the tank water about .1% salted at all times. They are thriving in it.

So should I go ahead and use the treatment? Thanks in advance!

Plecos are actually catfish in the Loricariidae family. I wouldn't use anything copper based around them, including the Had a Snail. Do you have another tank you can put him in while you treat?

Well, I can't put him in the gf tank, and the only other one is my 10gallon with my 2 apple snails in it. But this pleco is at least 6" long....he's a big guy. He's too big for that tank.

I have read on another site that loaches like to eat snails.....is there a small hardy species that I can safely put in the tank? Like the kuhli? It's a 20gallon with the pleco, 2 mollies, 2 platies, one danio. I know I'm understocked; I prefer it that way. I just wonder if the loach would have to compete with the pleco for food/hiding spots?

Kuhli loaches aren't big snail eaters. Clown loaches do great as do any botia. You could probably keep some small botias in there (I really like the sidthumunki botia) but they do get somewhat aggressive as they grow.

sidthumunki botia - I never heard of these before so I goggled it. They are very cute

I googled the Botia both of you mentioned....very cute indeed! Thanks ladies! I will keep it in mind. How agressive would they get when older? I really don't want to have to give up my pleco; he's my big baby. Very active, and feeds from my hand. I wouldn't want to add anything to the tank that may have territory/feeding issues with him.