Tongue Fish and Aquarium snails

Question
Hello Ron,
I would like to know if I can keep a couple of Tongue fish in a big aquarium with my peaceful cichlids: Geophagus Jurupari without being eaten or in my other aquarium with shrimps , snails, plecos and very small peaceful fish without them eating the tank mates. Which aquarium would be perfect?
Also I would like to know:
1- why some of my freshwater snails bury themselves under the sand?
2- Where do Tylomelania snail lay their egg?
Thanks for your assistance.
George

Answer
Hi George,
 Unfortunately tongue fish can refer to many very different kinds of fishes.  The kind that I am familiar with are flatfishes.  Is that what you mean?   They MIGHT be okay with the cichlids but i would not guarantee it.  It will depend a lot on the relative sizes of the fish involved. Fish of more similar size are more likely to get along.  

1. Snails bury to hide and protect themselves. There are many organisms, including many fishes, that eat snails.

2. Sadly, I do not the know the answer to where do Tylomelania snails lay their eggs. Sorry.

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>