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Most snails are scavengers that dine on algae, dead plant material, dead fish and other detritus, which makes them an excellent option to help you keep your tank clean. A single large freshwater crayfish might be able to eat and kill assassin snails.Assassin snail care is very different from just about any other freshwater snail out there. If you’ve ever kept ramshorn, Malaysian trumpet snails, or mystery snails then you’re probably aware of their tendency to reproduce and overpopulate aquariums.Assassin snails themselves are preyed upon by larger cichlids, or any of the more common snail eating fish.
Table of Contents
Will assassin snails overpopulate?
Assassin snail care is very different from just about any other freshwater snail out there. If you’ve ever kept ramshorn, Malaysian trumpet snails, or mystery snails then you’re probably aware of their tendency to reproduce and overpopulate aquariums.
Does anything eat assassin snails?
Assassin snails themselves are preyed upon by larger cichlids, or any of the more common snail eating fish.
Do fish eat assassin snails?
Assassin Snail Tankmates
I expect that any fish species that enjoys snails in its diet would appreciate assassin snails as much as any other species. Puffers and most medium to large loaches are probably poor choices as tankmates.
Where do assassin snails hide?
These snails prefer a tank or freshwater location with a soft substrate, and if you’re looking for them in the wild, heading towards moving water will help. The Assassin likes to hang around canals, streams, and rivers predominantly, but you can find one at the local aquatic supplies store to bring home to your tank.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
The assassin snail has become a popular choice with many aquarists, and they have a lot of responsibility within the tank, helping to keep the rest of the snail population in check.
What does a killer snail do?
As a carnivorous species, the assassin snail will consume other snails living in an aquarium and can keep the population low. These include ramshorn slugs, trumpet slugs, and those from the Physidae clan, and considering they’re known for sometimes populating to uncontrollable levels, having the assassin’s support is beneficial.
This unique snail can keep the tank’s other inhabitants to a minimum, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.
We’ve put together a beginner’s guide to the Assassin Snail, how to care for them, and what you need to know about keeping them so you can see if this population controller is all he is.
What is an assassin snail?
An assassin slug goes by the official name of Clea Helena, and this is a species of sea slug that has now learned to live fairly successfully in freshwater environments and is held in high esteem over other snails for its carnivorous nature.
As a member of a home aquarium, their main job is to eat the excess snails that have been bred to keep the population to a minimum. Aquarists also keep them because they have a striking appearance that adds beauty to those around them and because they have a reputation for being easy to care for.
The snail’s appearance is instantly recognizable thanks to its yellow and dark-banded trumpet-shaped shells, and it can grow up to 1.5 inches at maturity. The assassin snail’s ovoid-conical shell is thick, making it sturdy, and they have a lid that keeps the shell sealed and protects the snail inside.
Behaviorally, the assassin slug tends to be slower at night, with most of its feeding and hunting occurring during the day. They are not social and enjoy living alone, but have occasionally been observed grouping with others of their kind to attack a larger snail.
Where do assassin snails live?
The Clea Helena species is a tropical species and is commonly found in Southeast Asia and the water-surrounding countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.
They prefer tropical environments and climates, but have adapted to life in freshwater tanks better than most introduced snails, and most of the research that has been done on them has come from these controlled environments.
These days, an assassin snail is most commonly found at home in a standard aquarium, performing a much-needed task for the aquarium.
As a carnivorous snail, they have been known to devour other species, including those that breed prolifically and will overcrowd a tank in no time like the ramshorn, trumpet, and Physidae snails.
These snails prefer a tank or freshwater location with a soft bottom, and when searching for them in the wild it helps to move toward running water.
The Assassin likes to hang out mostly in canals, streams, and rivers, but you can find one at your local aquarium store to take home to your aquarium.
Care and Maintenance
An assassin slug can live up to five years with proper care, but you need to make sure they have the right size tank, adequate food, and the right water conditions.
You will need at least a 5 gallon tank as anything smaller will not be able to cope with sudden water changes which will affect these snails significantly.
To keep an assassin snail happy, the pH of the aquarium water should be between 7.0 and 8.0, and the KH and GH levels should be moderate to high. As with other snails, too acidic water will damage their shell and low pH will dissolve them, so you need to keep this in mind.
In terms of temperature, they do best with a tank that is between 75 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. However, their hardiness means they can also be kept between 64 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but they can be more difficult to grow at the extreme ends of the scale.
Adding soft substrate to the tank is a must, and this has more than one benefit. The assassin snail can hide underneath here when it’s cold while waiting for their prey, and it gives baby snails a safe place to hang out.
As they sift through the substrate, they also release smaller pockets of gas that would otherwise accumulate, so it’s an added bonus for their tankmates as well.
Regular feeding of an assassin snail
A carnivorous species, the assassin slug is considered a predator and scavenger that requires a high-protein diet to thrive.
They like to eat things like food scraps or dead organisms since they don’t have to put in much effort, but if none of that is around they’ll target something living instead.
An assassin slug will usually target other smaller slugs and worms as they are slow and easy prey. If there isn’t enough food in their natural environment, you can feed them things like brine shrimp, fish food flakes, and carnivore pellets to ensure they don’t starve.
On the plus side, your assassin snail won’t try to eat any of the plants in the tank, so you don’t have to keep an eye on them.
But that also means that they don’t eat algae either. If you’re looking for a snail to clean the jar every once in a while, this particular species won’t be able to help you.
The snail’s favorite tankmates
The assassin snail thrives when paired with the right aquarium mates, as with all other aquatic creatures. The good news is that this snail likes to keep to itself and isn’t aggressive, but because it’s a carnivore you still need to be careful.
All types of community tank fish and those known to be peaceful scavengers are best suited for an assassin snail. Aside from fish, you can mate the snail with pets such as freshwater clams and certain types of shrimp as long as the shrimp are larger, otherwise they will become a quick meal.
These snails don’t get along well with tankmates who tend to attack and injure others, so keep them away from goldfish, cichlids, and crayfish. If you’re worried about the snail eating others, making sure they’re well fed and less likely to forage for food is a wise approach.
Assassin Snail pest control tips
When an assassin snail is introduced into an aquarium, it is usually to control the spread of other snails.
However, if you’ve given your new pet some time and find that they’re not that keen on consuming the other pests you’re trying to get rid of, here are a few things to consider.
Check the tank temperature
A disinterested assassin snail might just be too cold, and the lack of heat might prevent them from doing anything other than hiding under the substrate.
If you notice that your snail doesn’t want to move much, try setting the temperature a little more comfortably. This can also give their breeding a boost, which in turn increases their appetite.
Cut out some of their food
As a scavenger, this slug doesn’t need to look very closely or bother finding food if you willingly give it to them.
While we’re not advocating starving anything in the tank, try limiting the amount you feed them and see if that helps. As soon as the assassin snail has to work out its food, it tends to go first to the pest snails in the tank.
Lower your expectations
An assassin slug is not an eating machine, and simply adding one to the tank does not mean wiping out the entire slug population.
You can expect one of these slugs to eat about one slug per day, but it could be as little as one slug every three days. If you’re expecting more from there, you might need to introduce another assassin snail to get the job done.
Wrong sizes
These snails won’t just eat anything that’s smaller, and there’s such a thing as prey that’s too small.
Since the assassin snail cannot enter the lair of anything less than 1/10th their size, they will ignore these smaller loot opportunities. You’ll have to wait for the Pest Slugs to grow to a more manageable size for the Assassin to have a chance.
The best kind of aquarist to own them
One of the best things about the Assassin Snail is that it works in so many types of tanks and with a variety of tankmates.
This means there are no limits to who can enjoy them and even beginners can easily take care of them.
The Assassin Slug is a smart addition to a tank when you want something low maintenance but serviceable, as they keep tabs on the slug population without requiring much from you. Due to their simple nature and great benefits, it is common to see these snails in both expert and beginner aquariums.
Those with larger tanks will likely find their snails to thrive since they have more areas to hide and a variety of places to explore.
They also need to be vigilant when keeping a lid on as they can climb walls and escape, but otherwise they are docile and a welcome addition to all types of aquariums.
A clever snail supplement
A few carefully placed assassin snails might be all your aquarium needs to keep the population in check, not to mention the pretty stripes they add to the space.
Before introducing new species like these snails, make sure you have enough space and they get along with the other residents of the tank, then sit back and enjoy how easy they are to care for.
related questions
Many aquariums are home to at least one species of snail, but depending on what you want from these slimy pets, there’s likely one species that might be a better fit for your aquarium than others.
To learn more about snails, read on for some frequently asked questions and expert answers that can give you the basics on these aquarium staples.
What kind of snails clean aquariums?
If you prefer a sucking auger that removes algae and debris from the tank, your best bet is to choose an auger.
Otherwise, you can opt for ramshorn snails and pond snails, but be careful with their rapid breeding rate and ability to take over a tank in no time, and they’ll likely do more harm than good.
How many snails should you have in a tank?
As a rough guide you should keep one snail for every five gallons of water, but this amount will also vary depending on the other fish and residents being kept with them.
Because some species of snails tend to breed quickly, you’ll need to keep track of their numbers to make sure they don’t overflow the tank.
Are snails easy to care for?
Snails are considered hardy and a low-maintenance addition to an aquarium, making them a good choice for beginners.
They do need to keep an eye on what they eat, however, as they can devour plants, and some species reproduce faster than others and can overpopulate easily.
Are assassin snails aggressive?
Despite their killer reputation, assassin snails won’t attack or disturb species larger than them. The snails are well-suited to community tanks with docile fish that share similar water preferences.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
Averaging 0.8 to 1.25 inches in length, assassin slugs are small and well-suited to 10-gallon tanks.
Assassin Snail Facts & Overview
Scientific Name: Anentome helenas Common Names: Assassin snail, killer snail, bumblebee snail Distribution: Southeast Asia Size: Average 0.8-1.25 inches Life expectancy: 2-3 years Color: Light beige body with spots, brown and yellow striped shell Diet: Carnivore Temperament: Peaceful Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons Temperature: 21-28°C (70-80°F) pH: 7.0-8.0 Hardness: 8-15 dGH Maintenance Level: Basic
distribution
The predatory snail (Anentome helena) is native to Southeast Asia and is commonly found in the lakes and rivers of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, although the snail also inhabits reservoirs and streams.
Due to its predatory nature, the species is often kept by aquarists looking to reduce populations of nudibranch snails.
adult size and lifespan
The predatory snail is a small invertebrate that grows to about 0.8 to 1.25 inches in size, although some can reach 3 inches in length. Wild predatory snails are typically larger than those reared in captivity.
With proper care and water conditions, this species can live up to three years.
Availability
Assassin Snails are affordable and readily available in fishmongers around the world. This species averages between $2 and $4 per snail and can be purchased online at LiveAquaria, Arizona Aquatic Gardens, and Aquatic Arts.
Assassins are fairly solitary and don’t need to be kept in groups to thrive. However, a large group is required when there is a large population of pests to be treated.
Ideally, there should be five snails for every 15 gallons of water. A group of this size costs about $13.
Appearance & Behavior
Predatory snails got their nickname bumblebee from their striking yellow-brown striped shell. Although predatory to other freshwater snails, these invertebrates are peaceful towards fish and make a wonderful addition to community tanks.
colors, patterns and size
The predatory snail has a grooved, conical shell with yellow and brown spiral bands. The snail’s body is light beige with dark spots, and juveniles are paler than adults.
A siphon—a tubular appendage that helps the snail breathe and recognize prey—protrudes from the shell.
The assassin has a pair of tentacles, a translucent muscular foot, and a special appendage known as a retractable proboscis that allows it to reach deep into another snail’s shell and claw at its flesh.
Unlike most snail species, predatory snails are not hermaphrodites and have different sexes. However, sex determination is impossible because females and males have the same appearance, size and shape.
Signs of illness or stress include skin changes, discoloration, and inactivity.
Typical behavior
The predatory snail moves slowly, feeds on small snails and spends most of its time at the bottom of the tank buried in the substrate.
Despite its predatory nature, the snail gets along well with its own kind and does not harm fish or large invertebrates. This species also does not uproot or eat plants, making them ideal for planted aquariums.
The predatory snail keeps to itself and is rarely active during the day, preferring to hunt at night. A snail climbing to the top of the tank is often an indicator of poor water quality.
Assassin Snail tank and water requirements
Caring for predatory snails is easy as they are peaceful and will tolerate a range of aquarium conditions. However, these invertebrates thrive best in a setup that simulates their natural habitat.
The tank should be warm, at least 10 gallons, and have a soft-grained substrate.
Habitat and tank requirements
The predatory snail prefers moderately hard water on the alkaline side because of the presence of alkaline minerals like calcium that help keep the shell healthy.
Plants are not necessary for this species, although vegetation can add some color to a tank and help dissipate strong currents. Opt for hardy plants like Anubias and Bolbitis.
The substrate should be soft, loose, and thick enough for the snail to burrow into, ideally between 2 and 3 inches. Make sure the tank holds at least 10 gallons and increase the size by 3 gallons per snail. Provide this species with 8-12 hours of light per day to mimic a natural day-night cycle.
Monitor water temperature with a thermometer and pH with a pH meter. Avoid filters that create strong currents, as predatory snails are used to slow-moving water. Cover the mesh filter inlets to prevent the snail from climbing into the filter and injuring itself.
water conditions
The ideal water conditions for a predatory snail are:
Water Type: Slow-flowing fresh water Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum, increasing size by 3 gallons per predatory snail Water Temperature: 21-28°C (70-80°F) Substrate: Soft-grained, loose substrate Tank Structure: Create climbing spots with driftwood and rocks. Invest in a secure lid to prevent the predatory snail from escaping. Acidity: Slightly alkaline, 7.0-8.0 pH Water Hardness: Moderately hard, 8-15 dGH Filter: High quality filtration system that produces little or no electricity Lighting: All lighting acceptable Plants: Not required Bubblers: Not required
Predatory snails are sensitive to water fluctuations. Only use this type when the water parameters are stable and the pool has been completely flushed. Perform a partial (25%) water change weekly to keep nitrate and ammonia levels low.
Care & Nutrition
Predatory snails are easy to care for, as they get along well with fish and tolerate different water conditions. In the wild, these carnivores eat worms, dead organisms, and small snails such as post horns and Malaysian trumpets.
The most common health problem affecting murder snails is parasitic infections.
nutrition and feeding
Predatory slugs will happily feed on unwanted pest slugs in the tank, but other suitable foods include brine shrimp, water fleas, snail eggs, and mosquito larvae. Protein-rich waffles should occasionally be on the menu of your predatory snail.
It is good practice to top up with live food regularly to ensure there is always enough in the tank. As a rough guide, these slugs will typically eat 1-2 slugs per day.
The best time to feed them is at night because that is when they are most active.
General care
A protein and calcium-rich diet and minimal water fluctuations give predatory snails the best chance of a long, healthy life.
General problems
Common health issues that affect an assassin snail include:
Parasitic infection: Causes white patches on the shell, lethargy, and shell changes. The treatment is to interrupt the parasite’s life cycle, although this is not always possible due to the predatory snails’ sensitivity to chemicals. Quarantine infested snails immediately.
: Causes white spots on the shell, lethargy and shell changes. The treatment is to interrupt the parasite’s life cycle, although this is not always possible due to the predatory snails’ sensitivity to chemicals. Quarantine infested snails immediately. Brittle Shell: Causes the shell to crack and is typically caused by a lack of calcium or poor water quality. Treat brittle shells by giving the snails more calcium and keeping the water well.
: Causes shell rupture and is typically caused by calcium deficiency or poor water quality. Treat brittle shells by giving the snails more calcium and keeping the water well. Stunted Growth: Occurs when there is a lack of nutrients or insufficient space in the tank. Make sure the tank is an appropriate size and that the snail is getting enough protein-rich food.
Avoid putting copper-based medication in the tank, as the chemical is toxic to predatory slugs.
Is an assassin snail dangerous?
The predatory snail is harmless to humans. When touched, this species will often retreat into its shell and hide, allowing it to be easily picked up and moved between tanks. However, handling should be kept to a minimum to avoid stress on the snail.
Like all freshwater snails, predatory snails can harbor parasites and should be quarantined for two to four weeks before introducing them into the main tank.
Assassin Snail Breeding & Eggs
Predatory snails are egg layers. Although this species is easy to breed, it reproduces slowly, laying only one egg at a time.
Fish farmers interested in breeding predatory snails should purchase a group of six or more to increase the chances of having both females and males.
Initiate breeding:
Gradually increase the temperature by a few degrees and provide a high-protein diet. Place the snails in a separate rearing tank to give the eggs the best chance of survival. Add a fine substrate and hard-surface structures such as rocks and driftwood for the female to lay her eggs on. A pair joins together for up to 12 hours during copulation. The female then lays square individual egg capsules that are yellow, translucent, and about 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters in size. Assassin snail eggs hatch in three to eight weeks.
Juvenile predatory snails burrow into the substrate and reach sexual maturity at the age of six months.
tankmates
Despite their deadly reputation, assassin snails will not attack or disturb species larger than them. The snails are well suited to community tanks with docile fish that have similar water preferences.
Ideally, aquarium mates should inhabit the upper and middle levels of the aquarium.
Great tankmates for assassin snails include:
Avoid keeping these snails around boisterous fish and snail-eating species. Large bottom fish, which are known to bother snails, should also be avoided.
Should You Get an Assassin Snail for Your Aquarium?
The predatory snail has a striking appearance and helps to get rid of unwanted pests in the tank. This species tolerates a range of water conditions, will not eat or uproot plants and is generally peaceful, making it suitable for community tanks or planted aquariums.
You should consider getting an assassin snail if your tank holds at least 10 gallons and has a soft, fine-grained substrate. Don’t get one if you’re having trouble keeping water levels stable or harboring boisterous fish in your tank.
With the right care and tank setup, the assassin snail will thrive and add a pop of color to your home.
How long do assassin snails live?
Healthy Assassin Snail Lifespan
A healthy Assassin Snail can live about two years. Lucky snails can live longer if food is plentiful and water conditions are right. Some hobbyists have said their Assassin Snails have lived upwards of five years.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
Questions related to Assassin Snail issues commonly concern:
What to look for when buying assassin snails in stores
Where can I see pictures of assassin snails in action?
What are some care issues for predatory snails in freshwater tanks?
How big do assassin snails get?
What is a good tank size for assassin snails in groups?
How long do assassin snails live?
What do predatory snails feed on?
Do assassin snails eat living plants?
Do predatory snails breed and reproduce in aquariums?
What are good tank mates for assassin snails in aquariums?
When purchasing an assassin snail in a store
When purchasing assassin snails, look for specimens that appear active. An assassin snail should be attached to hard surfaces such as aquarium glass or decorations. An assassin snail has a cone-shaped shell, similar to the shells of Malaysian trumpet snails and rabbit snails. Assassin snail shells are gold in color with a dark brown stripe winding around them from the opening to the tip. Her shell should be free of cracks, splits, or other damage and her lid should be visible on the top of her foot near her butt.
An assassin snail’s body and foot are light cream in color, with darker speckles scattered throughout. Make sure the assassin snail has a full proboscis and two tentacles with one eye each near the base. Keep in mind that snails can be kept in show tanks with rougher fish that can nibble on them. So make sure the snail looks healthy, active and complete.
Avoid buying assassin snails from display tanks with an unusually large number of dead or sick-looking tankmates, as this may indicate poor conditions and unhealthy snails. Also, avoid buying assassin snails when they are motionless or floating on the tank bottom, as these can be signs that the snail is sick or dead. Finally, check that the snail shell is not empty.
Assassin Snails Close Up: 20 second video
Image gallery of assassin snails
Assassin Snail Care: Moderate
One of the good things is that Assassin Snail isn’t too difficult to take care of. It’s not as easy to care for as some other snail species, but as long as the water conditions are right and food is plentiful, caring for the Assassin Snail doesn’t require much effort. The keys are tank size and stability. When adding new assassin slugs to a tank, do so slowly and carefully. Try to ensure that the displayed aquarium water in the plastic bag matches the new aquarium water parameters as closely as possible.
assassin snail size. A commercially available assassin snail is generally about 3/4 inch long. Under the right conditions, a well-fed adult assassin slug can grow to 3 inches. So hobbyists need to ensure their aquarium is of sufficient size and capacity to support the life of an adult snail.
Water Parameters: Stability is key
An assassin snail does not like sudden changes in water parameters, so make sure the aquarium is well filtered and heated. Also make sure the tank is fully drained, established and stabilized before inserting. It is important to keep ammonia and nitrite levels at 0 ppm. It’s also important to keep nitrate levels low with regular partial water changes. With that in mind, be careful when adding medicines and plant fertilizers. Assassins can be sensitive to some of their ingredients, especially in high concentrations. This is especially true for copper. Copper can be deadly to slugs, so make sure all additives are slug and shrimp safe.
Aquarium pH: 7.0 – 8.0. Some hobbyists suggest that a wider range is possible.
Temperature: 75 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hardness: Water should be rather hard for shell health and growth.
Lighting: wide range acceptable.
Tank Size & Habitat for Assassin Snails
Another issue related to maintaining Assassin Snail has to do with tank size. It’s a good idea to keep assassin snails in tanks that are at least 30 gallons in size. An assassin snail thrives best in aquariums with healthy and stable parameters, and larger tanks have a greater capacity to absorb sudden changes and shifts than smaller tanks. Also, an assassin snail feeds on other freshwater snails, so there must be enough edible snails in the tank as a food source.
Populations of snails being fed by Assassin Snails strain a tank’s capacity, and smaller tanks can quickly run into water quality problems when feeding such a population. The growth rate of assassin slugs must also be considered. As these assassin slugs mature, they grow in size and require even more slugs to feed on. Finally, assassin snails are often kept in small groups of five or six, so consider that as a multiplier when calculating how the population will tax a tank. Smaller tanks just aren’t the best choice to meet the needs of Assassin Snails.
slug safety
Other care aspects of Assassin Snail relate to snail safety. Tanks should be covered as much as possible to reduce the chance of them escaping the tank. With that in mind, remember to cover the flow filter inlets with a sponge pre-filter as snails sometimes get stuck head and body in the louvers. You can be seriously injured or killed.
After all, since an assassin snail is very active, the habitat should offer plenty of places to explore. The substrate should be on the fine side, as assassin snails like to dig in search of food. Assassins seem to enjoy pacing algae-covered aquarium panes, but well-fed Assassins don’t seem particularly concerned with the algae build-up.
Healthy assassin snail lifespan
A healthy assassin snail can live for about two years. Lucky snails can live longer when food is plentiful and water conditions are right. Some hobbyists have said their assassin snails lived more than five years.
Feeding Assassin Snails & Diets
An assassin snail is a carnivore that burrows into the substrate waiting for something to eat. Assassins are particularly fond of Malaysian trumpet snails, ramshorn snails, and randomly passing pond snails. With these snails, it seems to make little difference whether the predator is larger or smaller than the prey. Capless snails, such as ramshorn snails, are particularly vulnerable to attack. But even capped snails, like trumpet snails, can’t stand up to a hungry assassin snail. Assassin snails may also be interested in eating soft-type snail eggs, but not hard nerite snail eggs. Assassins may also be interested in fried shrimp. Assassin slugs don’t seem interested in eating their own or their own eggs.
For other snails such as adult Mystery Snails, Japanese Falldoor Snails, Nerite Snails, Rabbit Snails, Gold Inca Snails, and Ivory Snails, prey is generally safe if the prey is larger than the predator. Other related factors include how hungry the assassin slug is and whether there is an abundance of smaller slugs to eat. But while larger snails are generally safe, their young ones may not be. So keep in mind that small, young snails run the risk of being eaten by predatory snails.
In addition to eating snails, Assassin Snails may be interested in fish flakes, bloodworms, and other protein-rich supplements. In a pinch, assassin slugs might also be interested in foraging for fleshy debris and dead fish. But all things being equal, it seems that every day an assassin snail would rather eat trumpet snails than fish flakes. Shortly after installing an assassin snail in a tank, hobbyists may begin to see empty snail shells throughout the tank.
About living plants
Live plants and assassin snails in tanks. An assassin snail is a good snail to keep in a planted aquarium. Assassin snails are not at all interested in eating plants, so there is no risk of the plants being eaten. And pest snails can invade an aquarium by riding on aquarium plants, so assassin snails can really help keep their population in check.
Breeding and reproducing assassin snails
Populations of assassin snails reproduce in freshwater by laying eggs. Assassin snails lay eggs one at a time. Groups of single eggs often appear in close proximity to one another. Each egg is yellowish in color and is housed in a translucent, rectangular case attached to aquarium glass, driftwood, lava rock, or other hard surface. After a few days, the yellowish egg will turn light brown. It takes about two months for the eggs to hatch. Thereafter, the baby assassin snails burrow through the substrate as they mature. While assassin snails reproduce, they don’t have a reputation for being a snail that can overrun a tank.
Common assassin snail tankmates
Since Assassin Snails are carnivores, care must be taken when choosing tankmates. Assassin snails seem to feel very comfortable around their conspecifics as well as most other aquarium fish. Assassins also seem to get along with peaceful scavengers like armored catfish, as well as more sensitive algae eaters like otocinclus catfish. Assassin snails seem to mingle with small freshwater clams and larger Asian golden clams, as well as viper shrimp, bamboo shrimp, Amano shrimp, and ghost shrimp. But if you keep Assassin Snails in a tank with freshwater shrimp, just to be safe, make sure the shrimp are larger than the Assassin snails and the snails are otherwise well fed.
Avoid keeping assassin snails with rough species like cichlids, aquarium crabs, goldfish, or other aquarium mates that could injure or eat them. As always, if you have any questions about Assassin Snails and Tank Mate compatibility, please contact the seller prior to purchase.
Can assassin snails become a pest?
They scavenge for decaying matter in the tank, and so along with their ability to control snail populations, they are also useful in tank maintenance as well. Their breeding practices are extremely interesting. Assassin snails are slow breeders, so they are unlikely to become a pest.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
Assassin snails, scientifically known as “Clea Helena,” are black and yellow striped snails with an elongated shell. These slugs are carnivores and will therefore eat pest slugs in the tank along with decaying matter such as fish food. They enjoy meaty foods such as catfish pellets when live food is scarce.
Also See: Top 5 Invertebrates to Hire for Your Freshwater Cleanup Crew
Clea Helena will quickly solve your pest slug problem, ripping them out of their shells for a snack and leaving nothing but a graveyard of empty shells in their wake. It will be hard to believe that there were once so many pest snails in your aquarium that you couldn’t see the glass.
Native to Southeast Asia, predatory snails are a fairly quiet snail considering their job and name. They do not eat plants and can therefore be kept in almost any aquarium. Assassin snails are whelks typically found in saltwater conditions. However, predatory snails are strictly freshwater snails and are gaining popularity in the aquarium trade due to their striking appearance and ability to control pest snails with minimal effort on the part of the keeper.
See also: Tips to keep your aquarium’s water quality high
Assassin snails are exceptionally tolerant of a wide range of water conditions while hailing from fast flowing streams. They appear unharmed by any aquarium environment and can live with almost any fish. They look for decaying material in the tank, so in addition to their ability to control slug populations, they are also useful in tank maintenance.
Their breeding practices are extremely interesting. Predatory snails are slow breeders, so they are unlikely to become a nuisance. The male fertilizes the eggs, which the female retains within her until just before hatching, when she lays the eggs in a clear clump, and within an hour or so, little assassins were born. The babies then hide under the substrate for up to six months before foraging for food like their parents on the surface.
Whether or not you have a snail problem, predatory snails are one of the coolest reverse snails for a freshwater aquarium. They can help keep your tank clean, free from pest slug problems and keep you all entertained at the same time. After all, how many times can you say that real life assassins live in your house? And of course you must prevent the pest snails from taking over the world!
How many assassin snails are in a tank?
A group of 5 or 6 snails can live happily in a tank of at least 10 gallons. As usual though, the bigger the better if you are keeping a diverse community of fish and invertebrates. A 20 gallon tank will comfortably host up to 12 snails.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
Most aquarium snails feed on algae or plants, but this carnivorous snail feeds on other snails.
They are nature’s clean-up crew and one of the few freshwater predatory snails. If you have pests in your aquarium, these snails are one of the best ways to get rid of them.
Want to add some assassin slugs to your tank?
Read on to find out everything you need to know about these snails…
About assassin snails
The assassin snail, Clea helena, is a freshwater snail in the Nassariidae family.
This small mud snail is native to Southeast Asia and has earned the nickname bumblebee snail because of its brown and yellow shell pattern.
They are one of the few predatory aquarium snails and are often used as a natural pest control.
Assassin snails are easy to care for and aquarists of all skill levels can keep them.
A good general rule is that your predatory snail should be the smallest and slowest snail in your aquarium.
They typically grow to about 1 inch and have a lifespan of 2-3 years. Compared to other gastropods, they develop slowly and do not become sexually mature until they are 6 months old. Smaller pet stores don’t usually stock this exotic snail, but you can find them online at most aquarium suppliers. The average price is $2.50 to $4.50 per snail.
Assassin Slug Other Common Names: Bumblebee Slug Scientific Name: Anentome helena/Clea helena Family Name: Nassariidae Distribution: Southeast Asia Size: 0.80-1 inch Color: Gray body with brown and yellow or solid brown shell Care Level: Light Temperament: Peaceful Lifespan: 2- 3 years Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons Tank Mate Compatibility: Peaceful medium sized fish, schooling fish and large snails
Advantages and disadvantages
Benefits Natural pest control for aquariums.
Community tank compatible.
Cleans algae and dirt as well as pests.
Can be kept in tanks of almost any size.
Does not attack fish. Disadvantages Sensitive to water changes.
Can be eaten by predatory fish.
Difficult to breed.
Can collide with other bottom dwellers.
Assassin Snail Appearance
Assassin snails are related to whelks and share the same fluted conical shells.
Their shell has up to 8 whorls with about 3 bands per whorl. It is a mustard yellow color with mud brown bands. This color allows them to blend in with the muddy substrate in the wild.
The body of this snail is translucent gray but may fade to yellow near the shell.
A tubular siphon protrudes from the top of the shell just above the snail’s head. This appendage is used to detect movement and vibration of potential prey. When the snail has found its snack, it extends its long proboscis to hold the prey in place. Then they will pierce the prisoner’s body with their sharp radula.
The radula is a saw-like tongue used to pierce prey.
This snail also has a muscular foot, two long, spindly eyestalks, and two antennae between the eyestalks.
A muscular foot is a distinctive feature of every snail. The foot, located on the snail’s abdomen, allows the snail to move across the substrate through muscular contractions.
You can expect your assassin snail to grow to around 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length, but they have sometimes been known to exceed that number.
Unlike many other snail species (which are hermaphroditic), this particular snail has two sexes. However, it is impossible to distinguish the males and females by looking at them.
Colours
The Assassin Snail can come in one of two color variants:
Yellow and brown: This is the typical variety of colors. A mustard yellow shell with 3 or 4 mud brown bands on each whorl.
This is the typical variety of colors. A mustard yellow shell with 3 or 4 mud brown bands on each whorl. Brown: This is a particularly rare color form. The skin turns a muddy brown and not yellow at all.
Assassin snail farm and eggs
It can be difficult to breed the assassin snail because it is so difficult to tell males and females apart.
However, if you have a large enough group of snails, they will likely reproduce on their own. If you are planning to breed your snails, it is best to have a group of 6 to 8. Unlike many other aquatic snails, this snail does not require an aquatic environment to reproduce. They spawn on the sides of rocks and logs.
The first thing you need to do is isolate your breeding group in their own tank.
Raise the temperature between 77-80°F in this rearing tank. You should also fill the tank with rocks and logs for the snails to lay their eggs on.
Snails that want to reproduce band together in large groups. Mated pairs remain attached to each other during mating.
Breeding takes place about 12 hours after the snails have mated.
They only lay one egg at a time, but can spawn multiple times.
It takes about a month for the eggs to hatch, and even then you won’t see the juvenile snails until they’re fully grown. They bury themselves in the substrate and stay there for about 6 months.
For this reason, the substrate in your rearing tank should be enriched with microbial colonies that the young animals can feed on.
Once your assassin snails mature, they’re ready to join the rest of your aquarium community.
tankmates
In the wild, these reclusive snails keep to themselves and do not associate with the native wildlife. Their ecosystem dynamics are not very well understood.
In the aquarium, however, they are surprisingly passive for a predatory snail.
They will only attack those smaller or slower than themselves.
Any medium sized peaceful fish or fast moving schools of fish are safe. These include Zebra, Pearl, Giant and Celestial Danios. If you’re looking to add a few Gouramis to your community, then the Sparkling, Pearl, and Dwarf Gouramis are the best.
Fast-moving cardinal and neon tetras that congregate in large schools are also safe.
Keeping the snails in a paludarium allows you to include turtles and other herbivorous reptiles.
Keeping other bottom-dwelling invertebrates with predatory snails can be difficult, but larger snails and other large invertebrates should be perfectly fine. Nerit Slugs, Apple Slugs, and Mysterious Slugs can all be kept with Assassin Slugs.
Avoid large or aggressive fish.
Even the peaceful discus and scalar fish are likely to eat your snails.
Also avoid larger bottom fish like the Pleco catfish. Even very small, shy nanofish such as Chili Rasbora are best kept away.
All small invertebrates are at risk of being eaten by your snails. This includes cherry shrimp, grass shrimp and all small snails.
Crabs, crayfish, and larger shrimp should also be avoided.
How many assassin snails should I keep?
Assassin snails can be kept in groups of up to 6 animals.
They should only be kept in larger groups if you plan to breed them.
Most of the time they ignore each other and keep to themselves. The only exception to this is when they are ready to mate. If they find something tasty at the bottom of your tank, they may gather in large groups to share the loot.
You can keep many groups of these snails together in a larger tank. But if they do, don’t be surprised if you find a few of their eggs next to your rocks and other decorations.
Assassin Snail Care Guide
Anyone can care for an assassin snail and they can be kept in an aquarium of almost any size.
The biggest concern with this snail is its brittle shell.
This can happen if the snail does not have enough calcium in its diet or the water quality is poor.
Snail shells are made of calcium carbonate, which is readily available in waters with at least moderate salinity. If the water is too acidic or too rich in CO2, the calcium carbonate will dissolve and their shells will crack.
You should monitor the pH of your tank regularly and make sure it doesn’t drop below 7.
Also watch out for excess CO2 in your water column, which can happen if your tank is too dirty or over-fertilized.
The assassin snail can also carry trematodes (flukes).
These parasitic worms do not harm snails, but they can cause disease and infection if they spread to the fish in your aquarium.
The slug serves as a host for the worm throughout its life cycle. If the worm leaves the snail’s body, it can infect your fish. Trematode infection causes redness and irritation on the fins, scales, and gills of the fish. If a fish is rubbing against the items in your aquarium, it is likely to have a trematode infection.
Remove both the infected fish and any snails from your tank if a trematode infection occurs. Both the fish and the snail require an anti-leech treatment, which you can purchase from an aquarium store.
Important facts:
Required Experience: Freshwater Fish Farming
Nicknames: Bumblebee Snail
Color forms: Yellow and brown, solid brown
Size: 0.8-1 inch
Tank Size: 10+ gallons
Tank Temperature: 70-80°F
diet
In the wild, these predatory snails feed on other smaller snails and worms.
This will not change even in captivity.
Your assassin snail will usually be able to find food on its own (especially if your aquarium has a problem with worms and other small pests).
However, free feeding doesn’t always provide your snail with everything it needs to stay healthy. It is best to provide your snail with a few other things.
If your aquarium is low on natural prey, you can purchase live feeder snails and mosquito larvae. Just place them at the bottom of your tank and let your snails hunt them down themselves.
The snails only need feeding twice a day – they come out to hunt every night just after sunset.
You can purchase snail pellets and snail flakes from an aquarium store to supplement a live prey diet. All pellets and flakes should be high in protein.
These snails will also eat fish food that spills on the bottom of the tank.
Water fleas and Artemia can be given as additional protein from time to time.
After protein, calcium is the most important nutrient in a snail’s diet. It helps keep their shells healthy and strong. Include calcium supplements in your snail’s diet and provide them with crushed snail or clam shells as a snack.
Please also ask whether predatory snails eat algae?
Yes, they eat algae.
What foods can they eat?
As ground-eating scavengers, they are capable of eating all types of food. Here is a list of all the things your snails can eat:
live snails
bloodworms
flatworms
polychaete worms
Small forage fish
High protein flakes
algae
Crushed mussel shells
High protein pellet
detritus and dead plant material
Artemia
Crushed snail shells
carrion
tank set up
In the wild, these snails live on the banks of rivers, streams and streams in Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia.
There is little to no water flow in their natural habitat, and temperatures typically reach highs of at least 75°F.
They come out to hunt after sunset, so they are used to very low light. During the day they remain hidden under stones and leaves.
Like most snails, they prefer moist environments and tend to show themselves after heavy rains.
So how should you set up your tank?
Assassin snails prefer to live in sandy or muddy ground. If you keep a paludarium, you must keep the mud moist at all times to keep your snails from drying out.
You need to keep the temperature between 25 and 25°C – use a simple heater for tropical freshwater aquariums.
Since the currents in your tank should be very low, you don’t need a heavy duty filter – a small internal gravel filter or HOB filter works well.
You must maintain a pH range between 7.0 and 8.0. This is a freshwater snail, but higher salinity results in stronger shells (according to this study). For this reason, you should maintain a hardness between 12 and 15 dGH.
As for the light, any light intensity is fine as the snails avoid the light on their own. Their snails are only active when lighting is low to moderate.
Finally, the decoration.
Rocks, logs and wood are the perfect hiding places for these little snails. In a paludarium, any leaf litter or moss (like java moss) that you mix with your substrate will serve as additional shelter for your snails.
Your substrate should be enriched with plant material. Putting some wet leaves or moss over your substrate should help. They are not overly picky about plants and will accept almost all of the most popular aquarium plants.
Anubias is one of the best plants for an assassin snail aquarium, especially in the terrestrial sections of a paludarium.
Hepatica and ferns are two good plants to grow in the snail’s natural habitat. You can also float frog bites and duckweed along the surface of your aquarium for an authentic river effect.
Tank Parameter Requirements Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons Tank Type: Freshwater Temperature: 70-80°F pH: 7.0-8.0 Hardness: 12-15 dGH Flow: None to low Substrate: Sand or mud
What size aquarium do you need?
A group of 5 or 6 snails can live happily in a tank of at least 10 gallons. However, as usual, the bigger the better when you’re keeping a diverse community of fish and invertebrates.
A 20 gallon tank comfortably houses up to 12 snails.
Typical behavior
The assassin snail is surprisingly peaceful for a predatory snail.
They will just ignore anything that is too big or too fast for them to eat.
Generally, this is a solitary slug that prefers to stay out of the way for most of the day. They are only active at night when they come out to hunt. During the hunt you will see them extend their long siphon to scout their prey.
They have eye-stalks and antennae that allow them to sense light and vibrations in their environment.
This allows them to avoid brightly lit environments and spot suspicious movement that could indicate a predator.
When observing your snail in the aquarium, you may notice that it climbs up the glass or decorations in your aquarium. However, you will never venture too far off the bottom of the tank.
Overall, when not hunting, they are very secretive, hiding in wet mud or under rocks and leaves.
species history
Not much is known about the history of this snail as they have not been extensively studied in the wild.
What we do know is that they were first discovered in Indonesia in 1847.
Their first scientific name was Anentome helena, but they were also given the name Clea helena – both of which are still accepted today. The US Fish and Wildlife Service lists the species as Anentome helena.
Before 2016 they were assigned to the family Buccinidae. However, they have since been moved to the Nassariidae family. This distinguishes the freshwater clea snails from the mostly marine Buccinidae.
The snail was first introduced into home aquariums sometime in the 2000s.
They were sold as natural pest repellents.
To this day, many aquarists use assassin snails to remove unwanted small pests from their tanks. It is much safer to use these snails than to use chemical pesticides.
Fun Facts
The Assassin Snail is almost completely blind. Their rudimentary eyes can only see light, and they need their other appendages to get around. These snails are commonly used as pest control in home aquariums. You can often tell how old a snail is by looking at its shell. Older snails tend to have visible wear and tear or holes in their shells. These snails can live in both paludariums and aquariums. Killer slugs have been found outside of their natural range on the banks of Kranji Reservoir in Singapore. They are believed to have escaped from farms where they are being raised for the aquarium trade. Their banded shell serves as camouflage in the wild. The mud-colored bands allow the snail to blend into the substrate along the riverbanks.
Should you get assassin snails?
If you have a pest problem, the assassin snail can be of great help.
This peaceful but efficient predator can get rid of any small and unwanted critters in your aquarium. They can even help remove a little bit of algae.
Despite their name, they are actually very peaceful and tend to keep to themselves.
They might not be great fun to watch, but they make up for it by working hard to keep your tank free of bother.
Because they only hunt prey smaller and slower than themselves, you can safely keep them with most tropical fish.
You can certainly benefit from keeping a group of these beneficial snails around. Has an assassin snail helped you get rid of pests in your aquarium?
Let us know in the comments below…
Do assassin snails hide in substrate?
Assassin snails do not have a preferred body of water–they are found in many types of freshwater streams, ponds, and smaller ditches–but favor a soft substrate to bury themselves in. As a small carnivorous snail species, assassin snails hide until food is sensed and don’t tend to feed on any plants around them.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
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Even the most cautious aquarist can end up with a snail infestation in the tank. In search of a quick fix, aquarists often turn to snail-eating fish, such as puffer fish or clown loaches. These may seem like an easy fix at first, but most don’t take into account tank size and what fish they can actually accommodate in the long run, leading to even more problems. Luckily, there’s another option: assassin snails.
Read on for more information on caring for assassin snails and their effectiveness in controlling snail infestations in your aquarium!
Minimum tank size 19 L (5 gallons) Temperament Moderate Diet Carnivore Temperature 24-26.5°C/75-80°F pH 7.5-8
Surname
Clea Helena (appropriately named Anatome Helena) is commonly referred to as the killer slug or bumblebee slug.
Natural habitat
The freshwater assassin snail is typically found throughout Southeast Asia, from Malaysia to Thailand. They can also be found on the island of Sumatra in Lake Toba. Predatory snails do not have a preferred body of water – they are found in many types of freshwater streams, ponds and small ditches – but prefer a soft substrate to burrow in. A small carnivorous species of snail, predatory snails hide until food is perceived and tend not to feed on plants in their environment. Normally, these snails are least active around midday, but emerge purposefully to feed.
Due to its growing popularity in the aquarium trade, the predatory snail has become an invasive species and is being discovered in many new places. Their increasing populations may threaten many other species of freshwater snails due to external predation.
ID
Its cone-shaped, yellow and dark brown striped shell makes the predatory snail an attractive little addition to any aquarium, earning it the name bumblebee. Occasionally their shell will lack stripes, but this is rare. They can grow to a maximum size of around 3.2cm, although this seems to vary depending on the amount of food available and the size of the aquarium. Because of this, the maximum size of assassins in the wild is often larger.
Like many other snail species, the predatory snail uses a siphon for breathing, which usually protrudes from the shell. However, unlike many other snails, they do not breathe air directly. They have a lid that keeps predators out of their shells if they want to withdraw their “foot”.
Predatory snails are not hermaphrodite species, so it’s not really possible to distinguish between males and females. If you want to breed assassins, make sure you create larger groups so there’s a good chance you’ll get both female and male snails for your tank.
Requirements for Assassin Snails
Although they don’t actually group in a tank, keeping at least 3-4 predatory snails is usually recommended for each aquarium. There seems to be a bit of confusion as to the minimum tank size for them, but 10 gallons (38L) should definitely be plenty for a group of this size with some room for extra fish! Predatory snails are very easy to care for and thrive in any mature tank with stable water parameters. Just don’t get more than your tank size can handle.
This is also one of the few snails that you don’t have to worry about eating your plants as greens are not part of their natural diet! This makes predatory snails ideal for any small planted aquarium with community fish that won’t try to peck them. It is also not recommended to knowingly house assassins with other snails, especially their favorite treats: trumpet snails (Melanoides tuberculata) and ramshorn snails (Planorbarius corneus).
Because predatory snails naturally burrow and wait for their prey to emerge, a sandy substrate is preferred but not essential. Ideally, the water should not be too soft, as this could cause the shell to deteriorate. As with all tropical fish and invertebrates, the aquarium should be properly filtered, heated, fully heated and free of ammonia and nitrites.
How long do predatory snails live?
As with any invertebrate, any trace of copper in your aquarium will prove lethal to your predatory snail, any eggs it lays, and plants. If there is too little calcium in your aquarium, your predatory snails will also suffer. Unlike hermit crabs, they form their own shell and need calcium to do so. While their diet, which should include a wide variety of foods, will provide some of the nutrients they need, you can also test your water for calcium levels and dose accordingly if needed.
As long as all water parameters and nutrient levels remain stable, you should have no trouble keeping your predatory snails alive for a few years with minimal care.
Assassin snail tankmates
If you’re thinking about introducing predatory snails into your aquarium, remember that they don’t just eat pest snails. While not all sources agree on whether they also eat ornamental giant snails and even large mystery snails, it’s important to assume and avoid keeping them in your tank together. In fact, predatory snails will eat any type of food that smells appealing in the water column: planarians, fish eggs, and even the occasional dwarf shrimp fry, according to some aquarists.
This means if you are farming your fish or shrimp and want to avoid risk, you may want to avoid predatory snails. Larger species that require the same water parameters are fine as long as they are not snail-eating fish. Well-tolerated fish are guppies, small tetras, danios and less aggressive barbs. Loaches and other bottom feeding fish should be especially avoided as snails are their favorite snack!
Popular aquarium setups include a species-only tank with an assortment of plants and a group of predatory snails, adding color and excitement to the bottom of the tank. Except for a display tank, these snails can also be fed to larger fish. Assassin-only tanks are particularly appealing as you can closely monitor their diet and the food they eat to ensure your larger fish are getting a quality meal!
Assassin Snail Diet
As already mentioned, predatory snails do not feed exclusively on other snails. While they can wipe out entire populations of swamp snails, ramshorn snails, and trumpet snails, they are opportunists who will eat anything that gets to the bottom of your aquarium. This means that live prey, deceased housemates, commercial fish food, and frozen foods are viable meal options to add to your aquarium.
To feed a steady supply of predatory snails once the initial pest population is gone, you can ask your local aquarium dealer for smaller snails, or breed snails in a small separate tank as described here. However, if you ever (temporarily) run out of stock, don’t worry. It’s also okay to feed your assassins other high-protein foods like bloodworms or brine shrimp!
Assassin Snail Behavior
Although they flock quickly to any food that can be tracked through the water, the behavior of predatory snails is very different from that of most herbivorous snails. They do not forage and graze on the sides of the tank; Their hunting process is quite calculated and interesting to watch!
When hunting for live snails, predatory snails burrow into the substrate whenever possible and wait until only their proboscis (feeding tube) is sticking out. When an unsuspecting victim gets close enough to murder them, they emerge and start feeding. If a sandy substrate is not available for burrowing, predatory snails often actively move about the aquarium while looking for other snails to devour. However, this is most likely very stressful for your snails as they have nowhere to hide; It is always recommended to have a substrate or plants for your assassins to hide in!
Breeding predatory snails
Fortunately, while breeding predatory snails is not very difficult, it is not as easy as breeding pest snails. That would lead to two plagues of snails! If after a while you have more assassins than you can accommodate, it’s usually not too difficult to find another aquarist or aquarium retailer willing to take a few into their own tank for a snail infestation.
As already mentioned, predatory snails are not hermaphrodites in which both sexes can reproduce. Instead, only the female can reproduce, which means far fewer offspring than other snail species. Since the two snails look exactly alike, assemble a group large enough to have a good chance of introducing both sexes into your tank.
As long as there are enough snails or other nutrient- and protein-rich food available, the predatory snails in your tank will take it. The male and female assassin slugs bond for up to 12 hours during this period. You should then soon see bright, square eggs that should hatch in about a month. After hiding for a while between plants and in the substrate, the baby snails join the adult animals at feeding time in about six months.
Buy assassin snails
When buying predatory snails, be sure to look out for snails that are actively moving around in the aquarium, eating, or chasing prey. If the lid is closed, something may be wrong with the snail. A scaly looking or deteriorating skin is a sign of calcium deficiency that may be resolved too late. When ordering assassin snails online, be sure to look for a trusted seller with lots of good reviews like InvertObsession!
When you put your snails in their new tank, make sure they get used to them well, so that they can slowly get used to the different water parameters like other fish and invertebrates. Skipping this step means a lot of stress for the snails, which unfortunately can sometimes be fatal!
Conclusion
While predatory snails do an excellent job of keeping aquariums snail-free, their distinctive stripes and interesting feeding behavior make them a great addition to a snail-free aquarium. They are fun to watch when hunting and they do well in a variety of water conditions!
If you have any other questions about keeping predatory snails or would like to share your experiences with them in your aquarium, leave a comment below. Have fun keeping snails!
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Can assassin snails live in gravel?
They appear to naturally inhabit waters with a sandy substrate where they can hide and wait for unsuspecting prey, but aquarists have found they do just fine on gravel as well.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
Most snail-eating fish grow far too large for the average aquarium or are overly aggressive, but don’t despair. The solution is here, and you might be surprised to hear that… it’s a snail.
Scientific name Clea helena Common names Assassin snail Difficulty Easy Origin Southeast Asia
Assassin Snail Appearance
Clea Helena is definitely not the most understated assassin out there. Its light yellow and dark brown banded trumpet shell is sure to draw everyone’s attention! That means it will still make a colorful addition to your aquarium even if you’re not keen on getting some nudibranch snails massacred. With a maximum size of about 0.5 inches, it doesn’t require a large setup.
Setting up an assassin snail aquarium
Requirements for Assassin Snails
If you’re interested in acquiring some killer snails, you can do so as long as your aquarium is larger than about 5 gallons. Anything smaller may not keep a steady cycle and the snail bioload may be too high.
Your predatory snail aquarium should be filtered, thoroughly rinsed and heated. The snails do not make any special demands on the decoration. They appear to naturally inhabit waters with sandy bottoms where they can hide and wait for unsuspecting prey, but aquarists have found that they do well on gravel as well.
Assassin snail water quality
The most important factor to consider with any snail (besides your cycle) is water hardness. Snail shells are made of calcium and very soft water can actually cause shell deterioration over the long term. This can eventually become deadly, so be sure to keep your pH relatively high and your water on the harder side.
pH: 7.5-8.5
Temperature: 75-80°F
Assassin snail tankmates
If you want to keep assassin snails, you need to choose their tankmates wisely. As you’ve probably guessed, these are active predators that will snatch anything they can catch. Well, they’re not that fast that they can’t damage fish and larger inverts (even bottom feeders), but of course care should be taken when pairing them with snails. Small snails will be eaten sooner or later. There is a bit of debate as to whether ornamental snails like Nerites are safe, but personally we’d rather not find out.
Additionally, there is some debate as to whether predatory snails are shrimp-safe or not. Some hobbyists report their assassins catching baby shrimp, although they probably won’t do too much harm to your shrimp population. However, if your aquarium contains expensive shrimp or you are working hard to increase your stock, you should avoid these snails.
Assassin Snail Diet
You probably won’t be surprised when you find out that these snails are primarily carnivores. Their natural diet consists of snails and whatever swims past their sandy hideout – live or dead. Apart from that, they will also eat algae and pretty much anything they can find.
In the aquarium, your killer snails will snack on pest snails and any leftover fish food they can find. They can supplement their diet with commercially available fish food and frozen foods. If you’re serious about caring for predatory snails (if you’re trying to breed them, for example), you can even set up a separate breeding tank for snails to ensure this natural food source is always available.
Breeding predatory snails
Breeding predatory snails is just easy enough to be an enjoyable project for beginners, but just difficult enough not to end up with another snail infestation. Even if you end up with a few too many, you can usually sell them fairly easily.
All you have to do to get your killer snails to breed is find a group large enough to guarantee the presence of both males and females. Feed quality, nutrient-dense foods and keep water quality high. The snails will take care of the rest and start producing egg sacs when they are sexually mature.
Buy assassin snails
These useful snails have found their way into the general aquarium hobby. You should be able to find them at some aquarium stores, and there are also plenty of hobbyists out there who sell a snail or two.
If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your home just to buy some snails, you can easily order these assassins online at The Shrimp Farm. Buy your snails here!
Can assassin snails become a pest?
They scavenge for decaying matter in the tank, and so along with their ability to control snail populations, they are also useful in tank maintenance as well. Their breeding practices are extremely interesting. Assassin snails are slow breeders, so they are unlikely to become a pest.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
Assassin snails, scientifically known as “Clea Helena,” are black and yellow striped snails with an elongated shell. These slugs are carnivores and will therefore eat pest slugs in the tank along with decaying matter such as fish food. They enjoy meaty foods such as catfish pellets when live food is scarce.
Also See: Top 5 Invertebrates to Hire for Your Freshwater Cleanup Crew
Clea Helena will quickly solve your pest slug problem, ripping them out of their shells for a snack and leaving nothing but a graveyard of empty shells in their wake. It will be hard to believe that there were once so many pest snails in your aquarium that you couldn’t see the glass.
Native to Southeast Asia, predatory snails are a fairly quiet snail considering their job and name. They do not eat plants and can therefore be kept in almost any aquarium. Assassin snails are whelks typically found in saltwater conditions. However, predatory snails are strictly freshwater snails and are gaining popularity in the aquarium trade due to their striking appearance and ability to control pest snails with minimal effort on the part of the keeper.
See also: Tips to keep your aquarium’s water quality high
Assassin snails are exceptionally tolerant of a wide range of water conditions while hailing from fast flowing streams. They appear unharmed by any aquarium environment and can live with almost any fish. They look for decaying material in the tank, so in addition to their ability to control slug populations, they are also useful in tank maintenance.
Their breeding practices are extremely interesting. Predatory snails are slow breeders, so they are unlikely to become a nuisance. The male fertilizes the eggs, which the female retains within her until just before hatching, when she lays the eggs in a clear clump, and within an hour or so, little assassins were born. The babies then hide under the substrate for up to six months before foraging for food like their parents on the surface.
Whether or not you have a snail problem, predatory snails are one of the coolest reverse snails for a freshwater aquarium. They can help keep your tank clean, free from pest slug problems and keep you all entertained at the same time. After all, how many times can you say that real life assassins live in your house? And of course you must prevent the pest snails from taking over the world!
How many assassin snails are in a tank?
A group of 5 or 6 snails can live happily in a tank of at least 10 gallons. As usual though, the bigger the better if you are keeping a diverse community of fish and invertebrates. A 20 gallon tank will comfortably host up to 12 snails.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
Most aquarium snails feed on algae or plants, but this carnivorous snail feeds on other snails.
They are nature’s clean-up crew and one of the few freshwater predatory snails. If you have pests in your aquarium, these snails are one of the best ways to get rid of them.
Want to add some assassin slugs to your tank?
Read on to find out everything you need to know about these snails…
About assassin snails
The assassin snail, Clea helena, is a freshwater snail in the Nassariidae family.
This small mud snail is native to Southeast Asia and has earned the nickname bumblebee snail because of its brown and yellow shell pattern.
They are one of the few predatory aquarium snails and are often used as a natural pest control.
Assassin snails are easy to care for and aquarists of all skill levels can keep them.
A good general rule is that your predatory snail should be the smallest and slowest snail in your aquarium.
They typically grow to about 1 inch and have a lifespan of 2-3 years. Compared to other gastropods, they develop slowly and do not become sexually mature until they are 6 months old. Smaller pet stores don’t usually stock this exotic snail, but you can find them online at most aquarium suppliers. The average price is $2.50 to $4.50 per snail.
Assassin Slug Other Common Names: Bumblebee Slug Scientific Name: Anentome helena/Clea helena Family Name: Nassariidae Distribution: Southeast Asia Size: 0.80-1 inch Color: Gray body with brown and yellow or solid brown shell Care Level: Light Temperament: Peaceful Lifespan: 2- 3 years Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons Tank Mate Compatibility: Peaceful medium sized fish, schooling fish and large snails
Advantages and disadvantages
Benefits Natural pest control for aquariums.
Community tank compatible.
Cleans algae and dirt as well as pests.
Can be kept in tanks of almost any size.
Does not attack fish. Disadvantages Sensitive to water changes.
Can be eaten by predatory fish.
Difficult to breed.
Can collide with other bottom dwellers.
Assassin Snail Appearance
Assassin snails are related to whelks and share the same fluted conical shells.
Their shell has up to 8 whorls with about 3 bands per whorl. It is a mustard yellow color with mud brown bands. This color allows them to blend in with the muddy substrate in the wild.
The body of this snail is translucent gray but may fade to yellow near the shell.
A tubular siphon protrudes from the top of the shell just above the snail’s head. This appendage is used to detect movement and vibration of potential prey. When the snail has found its snack, it extends its long proboscis to hold the prey in place. Then they will pierce the prisoner’s body with their sharp radula.
The radula is a saw-like tongue used to pierce prey.
This snail also has a muscular foot, two long, spindly eyestalks, and two antennae between the eyestalks.
A muscular foot is a distinctive feature of every snail. The foot, located on the snail’s abdomen, allows the snail to move across the substrate through muscular contractions.
You can expect your assassin snail to grow to around 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length, but they have sometimes been known to exceed that number.
Unlike many other snail species (which are hermaphroditic), this particular snail has two sexes. However, it is impossible to distinguish the males and females by looking at them.
Colours
The Assassin Snail can come in one of two color variants:
Yellow and brown: This is the typical variety of colors. A mustard yellow shell with 3 or 4 mud brown bands on each whorl.
This is the typical variety of colors. A mustard yellow shell with 3 or 4 mud brown bands on each whorl. Brown: This is a particularly rare color form. The skin turns a muddy brown and not yellow at all.
Assassin snail farm and eggs
It can be difficult to breed the assassin snail because it is so difficult to tell males and females apart.
However, if you have a large enough group of snails, they will likely reproduce on their own. If you are planning to breed your snails, it is best to have a group of 6 to 8. Unlike many other aquatic snails, this snail does not require an aquatic environment to reproduce. They spawn on the sides of rocks and logs.
The first thing you need to do is isolate your breeding group in their own tank.
Raise the temperature between 77-80°F in this rearing tank. You should also fill the tank with rocks and logs for the snails to lay their eggs on.
Snails that want to reproduce band together in large groups. Mated pairs remain attached to each other during mating.
Breeding takes place about 12 hours after the snails have mated.
They only lay one egg at a time, but can spawn multiple times.
It takes about a month for the eggs to hatch, and even then you won’t see the juvenile snails until they’re fully grown. They bury themselves in the substrate and stay there for about 6 months.
For this reason, the substrate in your rearing tank should be enriched with microbial colonies that the young animals can feed on.
Once your assassin snails mature, they’re ready to join the rest of your aquarium community.
tankmates
In the wild, these reclusive snails keep to themselves and do not associate with the native wildlife. Their ecosystem dynamics are not very well understood.
In the aquarium, however, they are surprisingly passive for a predatory snail.
They will only attack those smaller or slower than themselves.
Any medium sized peaceful fish or fast moving schools of fish are safe. These include Zebra, Pearl, Giant and Celestial Danios. If you’re looking to add a few Gouramis to your community, then the Sparkling, Pearl, and Dwarf Gouramis are the best.
Fast-moving cardinal and neon tetras that congregate in large schools are also safe.
Keeping the snails in a paludarium allows you to include turtles and other herbivorous reptiles.
Keeping other bottom-dwelling invertebrates with predatory snails can be difficult, but larger snails and other large invertebrates should be perfectly fine. Nerit Slugs, Apple Slugs, and Mysterious Slugs can all be kept with Assassin Slugs.
Avoid large or aggressive fish.
Even the peaceful discus and scalar fish are likely to eat your snails.
Also avoid larger bottom fish like the Pleco catfish. Even very small, shy nanofish such as Chili Rasbora are best kept away.
All small invertebrates are at risk of being eaten by your snails. This includes cherry shrimp, grass shrimp and all small snails.
Crabs, crayfish, and larger shrimp should also be avoided.
How many assassin snails should I keep?
Assassin snails can be kept in groups of up to 6 animals.
They should only be kept in larger groups if you plan to breed them.
Most of the time they ignore each other and keep to themselves. The only exception to this is when they are ready to mate. If they find something tasty at the bottom of your tank, they may gather in large groups to share the loot.
You can keep many groups of these snails together in a larger tank. But if they do, don’t be surprised if you find a few of their eggs next to your rocks and other decorations.
Assassin Snail Care Guide
Anyone can care for an assassin snail and they can be kept in an aquarium of almost any size.
The biggest concern with this snail is its brittle shell.
This can happen if the snail does not have enough calcium in its diet or the water quality is poor.
Snail shells are made of calcium carbonate, which is readily available in waters with at least moderate salinity. If the water is too acidic or too rich in CO2, the calcium carbonate will dissolve and their shells will crack.
You should monitor the pH of your tank regularly and make sure it doesn’t drop below 7.
Also watch out for excess CO2 in your water column, which can happen if your tank is too dirty or over-fertilized.
The assassin snail can also carry trematodes (flukes).
These parasitic worms do not harm snails, but they can cause disease and infection if they spread to the fish in your aquarium.
The slug serves as a host for the worm throughout its life cycle. If the worm leaves the snail’s body, it can infect your fish. Trematode infection causes redness and irritation on the fins, scales, and gills of the fish. If a fish is rubbing against the items in your aquarium, it is likely to have a trematode infection.
Remove both the infected fish and any snails from your tank if a trematode infection occurs. Both the fish and the snail require an anti-leech treatment, which you can purchase from an aquarium store.
Important facts:
Required Experience: Freshwater Fish Farming
Nicknames: Bumblebee Snail
Color forms: Yellow and brown, solid brown
Size: 0.8-1 inch
Tank Size: 10+ gallons
Tank Temperature: 70-80°F
diet
In the wild, these predatory snails feed on other smaller snails and worms.
This will not change even in captivity.
Your assassin snail will usually be able to find food on its own (especially if your aquarium has a problem with worms and other small pests).
However, free feeding doesn’t always provide your snail with everything it needs to stay healthy. It is best to provide your snail with a few other things.
If your aquarium is low on natural prey, you can purchase live feeder snails and mosquito larvae. Just place them at the bottom of your tank and let your snails hunt them down themselves.
The snails only need feeding twice a day – they come out to hunt every night just after sunset.
You can purchase snail pellets and snail flakes from an aquarium store to supplement a live prey diet. All pellets and flakes should be high in protein.
These snails will also eat fish food that spills on the bottom of the tank.
Water fleas and Artemia can be given as additional protein from time to time.
After protein, calcium is the most important nutrient in a snail’s diet. It helps keep their shells healthy and strong. Include calcium supplements in your snail’s diet and provide them with crushed snail or clam shells as a snack.
Please also ask whether predatory snails eat algae?
Yes, they eat algae.
What foods can they eat?
As ground-eating scavengers, they are capable of eating all types of food. Here is a list of all the things your snails can eat:
live snails
bloodworms
flatworms
polychaete worms
Small forage fish
High protein flakes
algae
Crushed mussel shells
High protein pellet
detritus and dead plant material
Artemia
Crushed snail shells
carrion
tank set up
In the wild, these snails live on the banks of rivers, streams and streams in Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia.
There is little to no water flow in their natural habitat, and temperatures typically reach highs of at least 75°F.
They come out to hunt after sunset, so they are used to very low light. During the day they remain hidden under stones and leaves.
Like most snails, they prefer moist environments and tend to show themselves after heavy rains.
So how should you set up your tank?
Assassin snails prefer to live in sandy or muddy ground. If you keep a paludarium, you must keep the mud moist at all times to keep your snails from drying out.
You need to keep the temperature between 25 and 25°C – use a simple heater for tropical freshwater aquariums.
Since the currents in your tank should be very low, you don’t need a heavy duty filter – a small internal gravel filter or HOB filter works well.
You must maintain a pH range between 7.0 and 8.0. This is a freshwater snail, but higher salinity results in stronger shells (according to this study). For this reason, you should maintain a hardness between 12 and 15 dGH.
As for the light, any light intensity is fine as the snails avoid the light on their own. Their snails are only active when lighting is low to moderate.
Finally, the decoration.
Rocks, logs and wood are the perfect hiding places for these little snails. In a paludarium, any leaf litter or moss (like java moss) that you mix with your substrate will serve as additional shelter for your snails.
Your substrate should be enriched with plant material. Putting some wet leaves or moss over your substrate should help. They are not overly picky about plants and will accept almost all of the most popular aquarium plants.
Anubias is one of the best plants for an assassin snail aquarium, especially in the terrestrial sections of a paludarium.
Hepatica and ferns are two good plants to grow in the snail’s natural habitat. You can also float frog bites and duckweed along the surface of your aquarium for an authentic river effect.
Tank Parameter Requirements Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons Tank Type: Freshwater Temperature: 70-80°F pH: 7.0-8.0 Hardness: 12-15 dGH Flow: None to low Substrate: Sand or mud
What size aquarium do you need?
A group of 5 or 6 snails can live happily in a tank of at least 10 gallons. However, as usual, the bigger the better when you’re keeping a diverse community of fish and invertebrates.
A 20 gallon tank comfortably houses up to 12 snails.
Typical behavior
The assassin snail is surprisingly peaceful for a predatory snail.
They will just ignore anything that is too big or too fast for them to eat.
Generally, this is a solitary slug that prefers to stay out of the way for most of the day. They are only active at night when they come out to hunt. During the hunt you will see them extend their long siphon to scout their prey.
They have eye-stalks and antennae that allow them to sense light and vibrations in their environment.
This allows them to avoid brightly lit environments and spot suspicious movement that could indicate a predator.
When observing your snail in the aquarium, you may notice that it climbs up the glass or decorations in your aquarium. However, you will never venture too far off the bottom of the tank.
Overall, when not hunting, they are very secretive, hiding in wet mud or under rocks and leaves.
species history
Not much is known about the history of this snail as they have not been extensively studied in the wild.
What we do know is that they were first discovered in Indonesia in 1847.
Their first scientific name was Anentome helena, but they were also given the name Clea helena – both of which are still accepted today. The US Fish and Wildlife Service lists the species as Anentome helena.
Before 2016 they were assigned to the family Buccinidae. However, they have since been moved to the Nassariidae family. This distinguishes the freshwater clea snails from the mostly marine Buccinidae.
The snail was first introduced into home aquariums sometime in the 2000s.
They were sold as natural pest repellents.
To this day, many aquarists use assassin snails to remove unwanted small pests from their tanks. It is much safer to use these snails than to use chemical pesticides.
Fun Facts
The Assassin Snail is almost completely blind. Their rudimentary eyes can only see light, and they need their other appendages to get around. These snails are commonly used as pest control in home aquariums. You can often tell how old a snail is by looking at its shell. Older snails tend to have visible wear and tear or holes in their shells. These snails can live in both paludariums and aquariums. Killer slugs have been found outside of their natural range on the banks of Kranji Reservoir in Singapore. They are believed to have escaped from farms where they are being raised for the aquarium trade. Their banded shell serves as camouflage in the wild. The mud-colored bands allow the snail to blend into the substrate along the riverbanks.
Should you get assassin snails?
If you have a pest problem, the assassin snail can be of great help.
This peaceful but efficient predator can get rid of any small and unwanted critters in your aquarium. They can even help remove a little bit of algae.
Despite their name, they are actually very peaceful and tend to keep to themselves.
They might not be great fun to watch, but they make up for it by working hard to keep your tank free of bother.
Because they only hunt prey smaller and slower than themselves, you can safely keep them with most tropical fish.
You can certainly benefit from keeping a group of these beneficial snails around. Has an assassin snail helped you get rid of pests in your aquarium?
Let us know in the comments below…
Can assassin snails breed on their own?
Breeding Assassin Snails And Reproduction
Populations of Assassin Snails reproduce in fresh water by laying eggs. Assassin Snails lay one egg at a time. Groups of single eggs often appear in close proximity to one another.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
Questions related to Assassin Snail issues commonly concern:
What to look for when buying assassin snails in stores
Where can I see pictures of assassin snails in action?
What are some care issues for predatory snails in freshwater tanks?
How big do assassin snails get?
What is a good tank size for assassin snails in groups?
How long do assassin snails live?
What do predatory snails feed on?
Do assassin snails eat living plants?
Do predatory snails breed and reproduce in aquariums?
What are good tank mates for assassin snails in aquariums?
When purchasing an assassin snail in a store
When purchasing assassin snails, look for specimens that appear active. An assassin snail should be attached to hard surfaces such as aquarium glass or decorations. An assassin snail has a cone-shaped shell, similar to the shells of Malaysian trumpet snails and rabbit snails. Assassin snail shells are gold in color with a dark brown stripe winding around them from the opening to the tip. Her shell should be free of cracks, splits, or other damage and her lid should be visible on the top of her foot near her butt.
An assassin snail’s body and foot are light cream in color, with darker speckles scattered throughout. Make sure the assassin snail has a full proboscis and two tentacles with one eye each near the base. Keep in mind that snails can be kept in show tanks with rougher fish that can nibble on them. So make sure the snail looks healthy, active and complete.
Avoid buying assassin snails from display tanks with an unusually large number of dead or sick-looking tankmates, as this may indicate poor conditions and unhealthy snails. Also, avoid buying assassin snails when they are motionless or floating on the tank bottom, as these can be signs that the snail is sick or dead. Finally, check that the snail shell is not empty.
Assassin Snails Close Up: 20 second video
Image gallery of assassin snails
Assassin Snail Care: Moderate
One of the good things is that Assassin Snail isn’t too difficult to take care of. It’s not as easy to care for as some other snail species, but as long as the water conditions are right and food is plentiful, caring for the Assassin Snail doesn’t require much effort. The keys are tank size and stability. When adding new assassin slugs to a tank, do so slowly and carefully. Try to ensure that the displayed aquarium water in the plastic bag matches the new aquarium water parameters as closely as possible.
assassin snail size. A commercially available assassin snail is generally about 3/4 inch long. Under the right conditions, a well-fed adult assassin slug can grow to 3 inches. So hobbyists need to ensure their aquarium is of sufficient size and capacity to support the life of an adult snail.
Water Parameters: Stability is key
An assassin snail does not like sudden changes in water parameters, so make sure the aquarium is well filtered and heated. Also make sure the tank is fully drained, established and stabilized before inserting. It is important to keep ammonia and nitrite levels at 0 ppm. It’s also important to keep nitrate levels low with regular partial water changes. With that in mind, be careful when adding medicines and plant fertilizers. Assassins can be sensitive to some of their ingredients, especially in high concentrations. This is especially true for copper. Copper can be deadly to slugs, so make sure all additives are slug and shrimp safe.
Aquarium pH: 7.0 – 8.0. Some hobbyists suggest that a wider range is possible.
Temperature: 75 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hardness: Water should be rather hard for shell health and growth.
Lighting: wide range acceptable.
Tank Size & Habitat for Assassin Snails
Another issue related to maintaining Assassin Snail has to do with tank size. It’s a good idea to keep assassin snails in tanks that are at least 30 gallons in size. An assassin snail thrives best in aquariums with healthy and stable parameters, and larger tanks have a greater capacity to absorb sudden changes and shifts than smaller tanks. Also, an assassin snail feeds on other freshwater snails, so there must be enough edible snails in the tank as a food source.
Populations of snails being fed by Assassin Snails strain a tank’s capacity, and smaller tanks can quickly run into water quality problems when feeding such a population. The growth rate of assassin slugs must also be considered. As these assassin slugs mature, they grow in size and require even more slugs to feed on. Finally, assassin snails are often kept in small groups of five or six, so consider that as a multiplier when calculating how the population will tax a tank. Smaller tanks just aren’t the best choice to meet the needs of Assassin Snails.
slug safety
Other care aspects of Assassin Snail relate to snail safety. Tanks should be covered as much as possible to reduce the chance of them escaping the tank. With that in mind, remember to cover the flow filter inlets with a sponge pre-filter as snails sometimes get stuck head and body in the louvers. You can be seriously injured or killed.
After all, since an assassin snail is very active, the habitat should offer plenty of places to explore. The substrate should be on the fine side, as assassin snails like to dig in search of food. Assassins seem to enjoy pacing algae-covered aquarium panes, but well-fed Assassins don’t seem particularly concerned with the algae build-up.
Healthy assassin snail lifespan
A healthy assassin snail can live for about two years. Lucky snails can live longer when food is plentiful and water conditions are right. Some hobbyists have said their assassin snails lived more than five years.
Feeding Assassin Snails & Diets
An assassin snail is a carnivore that burrows into the substrate waiting for something to eat. Assassins are particularly fond of Malaysian trumpet snails, ramshorn snails, and randomly passing pond snails. With these snails, it seems to make little difference whether the predator is larger or smaller than the prey. Capless snails, such as ramshorn snails, are particularly vulnerable to attack. But even capped snails, like trumpet snails, can’t stand up to a hungry assassin snail. Assassin snails may also be interested in eating soft-type snail eggs, but not hard nerite snail eggs. Assassins may also be interested in fried shrimp. Assassin slugs don’t seem interested in eating their own or their own eggs.
For other snails such as adult Mystery Snails, Japanese Falldoor Snails, Nerite Snails, Rabbit Snails, Gold Inca Snails, and Ivory Snails, prey is generally safe if the prey is larger than the predator. Other related factors include how hungry the assassin slug is and whether there is an abundance of smaller slugs to eat. But while larger snails are generally safe, their young ones may not be. So keep in mind that small, young snails run the risk of being eaten by predatory snails.
In addition to eating snails, Assassin Snails may be interested in fish flakes, bloodworms, and other protein-rich supplements. In a pinch, assassin slugs might also be interested in foraging for fleshy debris and dead fish. But all things being equal, it seems that every day an assassin snail would rather eat trumpet snails than fish flakes. Shortly after installing an assassin snail in a tank, hobbyists may begin to see empty snail shells throughout the tank.
About living plants
Live plants and assassin snails in tanks. An assassin snail is a good snail to keep in a planted aquarium. Assassin snails are not at all interested in eating plants, so there is no risk of the plants being eaten. And pest snails can invade an aquarium by riding on aquarium plants, so assassin snails can really help keep their population in check.
Breeding and reproducing assassin snails
Populations of assassin snails reproduce in freshwater by laying eggs. Assassin snails lay eggs one at a time. Groups of single eggs often appear in close proximity to one another. Each egg is yellowish in color and is housed in a translucent, rectangular case attached to aquarium glass, driftwood, lava rock, or other hard surface. After a few days, the yellowish egg will turn light brown. It takes about two months for the eggs to hatch. Thereafter, the baby assassin snails burrow through the substrate as they mature. While assassin snails reproduce, they don’t have a reputation for being a snail that can overrun a tank.
Common assassin snail tankmates
Since Assassin Snails are carnivores, care must be taken when choosing tankmates. Assassin snails seem to feel very comfortable around their conspecifics as well as most other aquarium fish. Assassins also seem to get along with peaceful scavengers like armored catfish, as well as more sensitive algae eaters like otocinclus catfish. Assassin snails seem to mingle with small freshwater clams and larger Asian golden clams, as well as viper shrimp, bamboo shrimp, Amano shrimp, and ghost shrimp. But if you keep Assassin Snails in a tank with freshwater shrimp, just to be safe, make sure the shrimp are larger than the Assassin snails and the snails are otherwise well fed.
Avoid keeping assassin snails with rough species like cichlids, aquarium crabs, goldfish, or other aquarium mates that could injure or eat them. As always, if you have any questions about Assassin Snails and Tank Mate compatibility, please contact the seller prior to purchase.
Assassin Snail Care Guide – THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS KILLER!
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Assassin Snail Care Guide: Everything You Should Know
Caring for assassin snails is very different from pretty much any other freshwater snail out there. If you’ve ever kept ramshorn, Malaysian trumpet snails, or mystery snails, then you probably know their tendency to breed and overcrowd aquariums.
The predatory snail differs greatly from these species. Not only do they lay few eggs, but they also don’t eat algae or rotting plants.
Instead, these are carnivores with a special taste for their mollusk relatives. This makes them excellent for combating freshwater snails, although they are also interesting as aquarium inhabitants.
Let’s take a look at what the predatory snail has to offer and see if you can do without aquarium snail killers if you have unwanted pest snails in your tank.
What are assassin snails?
The predatory snail comes from Southeast Asia. They are most common in Thailand and Malaysia down to Indonesia. As members of the Nassariidae family, most of their relatives are found in the sea. However, the predatory snail is found exclusively in freshwater environments
An adult assassin snail can reach 2 inches in length. But the majority will barely exceed 1 inch, including the whorled shell, making them a fairly small species of snail.
While not particularly difficult to breed, they are not as prolific as other snails and do not come in the dizzying array of color morphs that ramshorn and humpback snails have. Because of their simple stripe pattern, they are also known as bumblebee snails.
And they are one of the more active species. When not resting under fine substrates, predatory slugs will wander around rocks, glass, and plants, searching for the scent of prey.
They got their name from the fact that they prefer to feed on other snails. While they are more easily able to deal with similarly sized snails such as post horns, they are also more likely to bite larger snails such as hare and apple snails.
Predatory snails have a snout and a rasping radula that allows them to extend into the shells of other snails. The radula acts as a scouring pad that slowly abrades flesh and blood, weakening its prey. Other assassin slugs sense an attack and work together to bring down even larger slugs. In the end, only empty snail shells, cleaned of meat, remain.
Best of all, you won’t see any snail population explosions if you’re holding an assassin snail. In fact, they’re very useful for reducing annoying slug explosions, which we’ll detail below.
Scientific name: Clea Helena
Clea Helena Origin: Southeast Asia & Indonesia
Southeast Asia & Indonesia Size: Up to 2 inches
Up to 2 inches Temperament: Peaceful; predator
Peaceful; Predatory Difficulty: Easy
Plain price: $3-5
Assassin snail care issues
Although they are specialized carnivores, assassin snails are easy to care for as long as you consider their diet, water quality needs, and substrate preferences.
Tank size for assassin snails
Since new predatory snails are small and not particularly active aquarium inhabitants, you can keep them in smaller tanks without any problems.
If you have a larger aquarium that is heavily infested with slug pests, you may need to add small groups of predatory slugs to the tank. But tank size is irrelevant as long as you have enough hired assassins to take out the pests.
Assassin Snail water conditions
Healthy and stable parameters are very important for many reasons. And invertebrates of all kinds are particularly sensitive to ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. While fish will tolerate higher concentrations, you should keep nitrates as close to 0 ppm as possible when keeping predatory snails.
Be careful with plant fertilizer when keeping them in a planted tank. Many fertilizers use nitrate as a source of nitrogen, which is bad for slug safety if dosed too high.
Because they are carnivores, eating at a snail-like speed, leftover scraps of meat tend to rot. This leads to frequent spikes in toxic nitrogen compounds like ammonia when water quality becomes problematic.
As far as water temperature goes, they prefer things on the warmer side of things. As a Southeast Asian species, they should be kept from 70-82F. Moderate water hardness is also important, as snail shells are made up of dissolved minerals.
plants and substrate
Predatory snails are carnivores and therefore harmless when kept with living plants. However, they also do not eat algae and will prey on snails that do. If you need seaweed eaters, stick to Dwarf Otocinclus and Freshwater Shrimp.
In terms of substrate, they should be kept in aquariums with fine sand or soil, as they burrow. This digging helps improve the free flow of oxygen and nutrients to the roots of living plants. Fine substrates that assassin snails have tunneled through also have a reduced chance of compacting over dead organic matter, forming anoxic pockets of toxic gas.
If newborn juvenile assassin snails spend most of their time burrowed, they only leave when food is smelled. Adults spend more time above the substrate, but also submerge constantly, with only their siphons exposed.
Feed assassin snails
Feeding predatory snails is the only part of their care that can be problematic. As carnivores, they are not satisfied with scraps of algae and detritus.
They accept commercial fish flakes and pellets, which are usually high in fishmeal and other high-protein supplements. However, you shouldn’t have to rely on removing excess food residue. It is better to feed them at night or in an invertebrate tank full of slow feeders.
Assassin snails prefer meaty foods like frozen cubes of brine shrimp and mosquito larvae, as well as slices of fresh fish or beef hearts. In the tight spaces of an aquarium, the smell of fresh meat hits their two tentacles in a matter of seconds.
This encourages them to dig up and draw a direct line to the scent source. Soon the food will be covered with predatory snails eagerly feeding. If one of your fish or shrimp dies during the night, you can wake up and find a dead fish covered in snails.
Sometimes people take this as a sign that the snails have killed the fish, but they are unable to do so. Shrimp fry may be in danger, but when it comes to adults, they are shrimp safe.
Shell mates for assassin snails
Being carnivorous but otherwise peaceful, assassin snails can work in any type of aquarium setup. They are best kept with a small number of peaceful, similarly sized fish and invertebrates that will not consume all of the food before the snails have a chance to get their share of it.
Great Shellmates for Assassin Slugs:
Small community fish (tetras, danios, etc.)
killifish
dwarf cichlids
freshwater shrimp
surface-dwelling fish
Corydoras
Dwarf Otocinclus
Algae control can be difficult as you cannot keep them with other snails. Any algae-eating fish or shrimp can work, but plecostomus are best avoided as they can suck snails right out of their shells when fully grown.
Cichlids, puffers, large catfish, and cyprinids also make poor tankmates, simply swallowing them whole or crushing them with powerful neck muscles and teeth.
Tankmates Not to Keep with Assassin Snails:
blowfish
Medium to large cichlids
Cyprinids (goldfish, large barbel, etc.)
crayfish
plecostomus
Medium to large catfish
Other snails
Using assassin slugs to control vermin slugs
One of the most common reasons for purchasing a predatory slug is that you have a pest slug problem. The following wine snails are known to cause problems in aquaristics when their stocks explode:
Malaysian trumpet snails
ramshorn snails
Apple/Mystery Snails
bubble snails
pond snails
Controlling snail counts can be a real hassle. While chemical methods work, if there are too many snails you can cause even bigger problems by killing them all at once. Bodies trapped in the tank rot en masse, making the water levels toxic to fish and even snails.
While trying to fight larger snails, a predatory snail prefers to eat trumpet snails and other small species of snails.
Depending on the size of the outbreak and the aquarium, you’ll likely want to purchase several assassin snails. They cannot reproduce asexually and only lay a single egg at a time, so they don’t just reproduce like herbivorous snails.
Two snails per 10 gallons is a good start for freshwater tanks infested with ramshorn or trumpet snails.
When they encounter snail slime trails, assassin snails quickly follow them back to their source and climb onto other snails’ houses to stop them from escaping.
In an aquarium, they can eventually wipe out other snails – if you buy fewer predatory snails than mentioned above, they will do an admirable job of controlling pest snails without eliminating them.
Assuming they kill off their food source, you’ll need to either relocate your assassin snails or start offering meaty foods to keep them from starving.
Another bonus to keeping a killer snail is that they have been known to eat snail eggs. Except for puzzle and apple snails, which lay their eggs over water.
Snail eggs can be almost invisible and very difficult to find and remove. But they only eat the soft kind. Hartnerite snail eggs, for example, are too tough to eat.
Breed assassin snails
Predatory snails are not as productive as other snails. But given the right water parameters, they’ll likely be breeding for you in just a few weeks.
Condition Assassin Snails
The best way to get predatory snails to breed is to provide mates, warm temperatures, 0 ppm nitrates, fine substrates that adults and juveniles are comfortable in, and quality food. If there are no live slugs to hunt, provide fresh and frozen meat.
Predatory snails are not hermaphrodites and reproduce sexually. Although they have defined male and female sex, the differences are impossible for aquarists to tell. As only the snails can tell you want to buy enough of these to ensure you get a good range of potential matches.
Young assassin snail care
Once well fed, mates offered and mature, they will eventually reproduce on their own. Assassins Once well fed, offered mates, and mature, they will eventually reproduce on their own. Predatory snails mate and lay a single egg about once a month.
Each yellow, boat-shaped assassin snail egg sac will eventually turn a deeper shade of brown and develop over the course of a month if kept in temperatures around 80°F. Cooler water can slow the development process up to two months.
The baby snails burrow into the sand as quickly as possible and remain hidden unless food is presented. They will also start chasing and eating other snails long before they are fully grown.
Over the course of six months, your baby snails will eventually reach their full adult size and sexual maturity. Like adults, they feed on live snails, high-protein ready meals, and dead fresh or frozen meat.
Finally
The predatory snail is a great addition to most aquariums. A hungry assassin slug feeds primarily on other slugs, helping to keep their numbers in check. They also eat dead fish, fish flakes, and other protein sources before they can break down into ammonia.
They spend a lot of time hiding. But when they’re outdoors, the speed and activity of a predatory snail make them interesting aquarium dwellers.
Frequently asked questions about assassin snails
Still hoping to learn more? Then here are a few tips for caring for a predatory snail.
What Do Assassin Snails Eat? Unlike almost every other freshwater snail out there, assassin snails are strictly carnivores. They do not eat algae, dead plants or other debris. Instead, they need fresh protein in the form of fresh fish, mosquito larvae, artemia, and even other snails. They also eat high-protein flake food and pellets, mostly made of fishmeal. How big do assassin snails get? Assassin snails stay very small, not exceeding 2 inches in size, and are usually smaller! Where to buy assassin snails Assassin snails are not typically sold at pet stores like Petsmart or Petco. You have a better chance of finding them at local aquarium supply stores. If your local fish store doesn’t have Assassin Snails, you might want to try this list of online fish and plant retailers instead! Do predatory snails eat shrimp? It really depends who you ask. Some aquarists report finding predatory snails eating their shrimp. However, it is unclear whether the shrimp was already weakened and on the verge of death, or whether the snail was actively hunting and killing it.
Since assassin snails have no other way to secure their prey than to latch onto it and eat it alive, I think shrimp kills happen when the shrimp are already about to die. Even baby shrimp are way too fast to get caught by a snail. And of course, these carnivorous snails will happily hunt down and eat any freshly dead shrimp they smell in the current in your tank.
The Care, Feeding, and Breeding of Assassin Snails (Clea Helena)
Fast statistics
Minimum tank size: 29 gallons (110 liters)
Care level: Moderately difficult
Water Conditions: PH 6.5-7.5 and moderately hard to very hard
Temperature: 18-25ºC
Maximum size: 3 inches (7.5 cm)
The predatory snail (Clea helena) is a freshwater snail that is in high demand in the aquarium trade for its ability to prey on vermin snails. They are found throughout much of Southeast Asia and are native to Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
They mainly inhabit small bodies of water and are most commonly found in ponds or ditches. They prefer locations with sandy or muddy ground, these conditions should be reproduced as closely as possible in the home aquarium.
Assassin slugs do particularly well in captivity, and most grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) in length. The average lifespan is around two years, although they can easily exceed this age in a well maintained aquarium.
Housing
Assassin snails really only thrive in mature aquariums, and the minimum tank size for this snail is 29 gallons (110 liters). At first glance, this may seem like too large a tank size for such a small snail, but note that they do not breathe air like most other aquarium snails. Because of this, they are very sensitive to water quality.
They must be provided with a soft subsoil that allows them to burrow. Sand is generally the best choice, but there are numerous other substrates on the market that will work as well. Adult predatory snails spend a large part of their time in the substrate and often attack other snails from their hiding place there.
Predatory snails have no interest in aquatic plants and are safe in any planted aquarium. In fact, many people keep these snails in aquascape tanks to deal with unwanted pest snails that might be accidentally introduced.
A word of caution – there have been numerous reports of killer snails eating fish eggs and even immobile wrigglers. Therefore, they should not be kept in breeding tanks unless you are breeding livebearers.
feeding
An assassin slug’s natural diet consists primarily of other types of slugs and worms, although they are also opportunistic feeders. They will eat almost anything they can find, including decomposing fish and other small invertebrates.
Due to their varied diet, they are very easy to feed in the home aquarium. If there is a significant population of snails in their tank, they often do not have to be fed at all.
However, if they don’t have snails to eat, they should be fed a high-protein diet. Some aquarists feed them frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp, but any sinking food will do. The best choices are either Wardley Shrimp Pellets or Hikari Sinking Wafers, and you can usually just select the food that works best for the fish sharing the tank with you.
breed
Assassin snails have defined males and females and are not hermaphroditic like many other snails. It’s almost impossible to get these snails too gendered. So if you plan to breed them, at least six individuals should be introduced to ensure an appropriate gender mix.
When they start mating, they stay together for about 12 hours. After they are done, the female then lays several individual eggs. The eggs are often laid on plants or driftwood, but you can also see them on ornaments or even on the aquarium glass. They are roughly square in shape with a brown sac in the middle.
The eggs generally hatch after a few weeks (usually between 3-8 weeks), although the amount of minerals in the water can affect the incubation period. After hatching, the juveniles burrow into the substrate and are rarely seen again until they are fully grown. Maturity is usually reached after around six months, at which point they emerge from the substrate more regularly.
They reproduce very slowly for a snail and therefore rarely become a nuisance themselves. However, they can be difficult to completely remove from an aquarium because they spend so much time buried in the substrate.
compatibility
Assassin snails themselves are preyed upon by larger cichlids or one of the more common snail-eating fish. Despite being protected by a lid, they are often injured and stressed by a fish’s constant attacks. If the attacks continue, they will either die or have a greatly reduced lifespan.
Almost every other snail kept with a predatory snail is endangered. While extremely large snails such as apple snails are generally safe, it is not unknown for predatory snails to “join” and devour larger snails. Only put these snails in an aquarium if you are willing to lose any snails sharing a tank with them.
snail control
Assassin snails are known for their ability to deal with troublesome snails in an aquarium, and only a handful of these snails can even handle a massive infestation of Malaysian trumpet snails. Because of this, they are becoming more and more popular and more and more fish shops are starting to carry this snail.
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