Most fish will opportunistically feed on snails especially if the snail is slow moving and/or the fish is large and/or ravenous. Many fish keep snail populations in check. In the aquarium trade there are snail-eating fish of many different families including the following:
Pufferfish (Family Tetraodontidae)
Triggerfish (Family Balistidae)
Filefish (Family Monacanthidae)
Gobies (Family Gobiidae)
Porgies and Seabasses (Family Sparidae)
Lungfish (Family Ceratodontidae)
Some of these fish are available to aquarists while others are not. The following is a brief description of each group of snail-eating fish:
Pufferfish are highly specialized eaters of hard-shelled invertebrates including snails clams and crabs. They have very strong teeth and jaws that can crush the shells of their prey. Pufferfish are found in both fresh and salt water environments.
Triggerfish are also eating machines preying on a wide variety of small animals including snails shrimp crabs and small fish. They use their sharp teeth to rip their prey apart. Triggerfish are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world.
Filefish are more delicate eaters than the other fish mentioned so far. They consume small invertebrates especially tunicates and small snails. Filefish are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world.
Gobies are small bottom-dwelling fish that feed on a variety of small invertebrates including snails shrimp and crabs. They use their suction-like mouths to attach themselves to their prey and then eat them whole. Gobies are found in fresh brackish and salt water environments.
Porgies and seabasses are a large group of fish that includes many species that are popular with aquarists. Some of these fish are known to eat snails while others do not. Porgies and seabasses are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world.
Lungfish are a primitive group of fish that are able to breathe air using lungs as well as gills. They are not as specialized as the other fish mentioned here and will eat just about anything they can fit in their mouths including snails shrimp and small fish. Lungfish are found in fresh and salt water environments.
What fish eat snails but not shrimp?
Pufferfish triggerfish and wrasses are a few examples of fish that eat snails but not shrimp.
How do these fish eat snails but not shrimp?
Pufferfish and triggerfish have sharp teeth that they use to crush the snail’s shell.
Wrasses use their long pointed jaws to snatch the snail out of its shell.
Do all fish that eat snails also eat shrimp?
No there are many examples of fish that eat snails but not shrimp.
What other food do these fish eat?
Pufferfish triggerfish and wrasses also eat a variety of other seafood including crabs crayfish and lobster.
Do these fish only eat seafood?
No pufferfish triggerfish and wrasses also eat a variety of other foods including vegetables and fruit.
What is the main difference between shrimp and snails?
Shrimp are much smaller than snails.
What is the main difference between pufferfish and triggerfish?
Pufferfish are much larger than triggerfish.
What is the main difference between wrasses and pufferfish?
Wrasses are much smaller than pufferfish.
What is the main difference between wrasses and triggerfish?
Wrasses have much longer jaws than triggerfish.
Why do pufferfish eat snails?
Pufferfish eat snails for the same reason that they eat other seafood – because they are a good source of protein and other nutrients.
Why do triggerfish eat snails?
Triggerfish eat snails for the same reason that they eat other seafood – because they are a good source of protein and other nutrients.
Why do wrasses eat snails?
Wrasses eat snails for the same reason that they eat other seafood – because they are a good source of protein and other nutrients.
What is the main difference between pufferfish and wrasses?
Pufferfish are much larger than wrasses.
What is the main difference between triggerfish and wrasses?
Triggerfish have much shorter jaws than wrasses.
Do all fish that eat snails also eat shrimp?
No there are many examples of fish that eat snails but not shrimp.