Food mainly consists of other shellfishes, but if there are absent in a tank, diet can be complimented with other feed with high protein content. Freshwater biomes can include plants, rocks, and sand. We like to go the extra mile when it comes to our critters, and we think you should too. It is reported that each assassin snail, however, is born a male or a female and stays that way. The gastropods spend most of their time at the bottom of rivers when they’re in the wild. They’re carnivores that like to feed off of other snails! The feature of this kind is an elongated breathing tube that is always stretched forward as the snail moves. Although water parameters aren’t a crucial point, but it’s better to keep snail in the water with medium hardness with pH 6.5-7.5. They are particularly adept at handling populations of pond snails, Malaysian trumpet snails, ramshorn snails, bladder snails, and more! The Assassin Snail is found in southeast Asia. Adult shellfish max size is up to 15-17 mm (sometimes there can be seen larger species). It takes about a month for the tiny eggs to hatch. Some can get up to 2 inches long with the right diet, but that’s quite uncommon. They are predators only towards other snails and they show no interest to fishes, prawns and tank plants. Using a large or coarse substrate can cause damage to their tentacles and skin. Invest in a good filter (like the FX4) to ensure that organic matter doesn’t muck up the water too much. To get around the tank, the Assassin Snail has a very muscular foot. The priority requirements are good tank conditions and plenty of nutritious food. An Assassin Snail does best in aquariums with healthy and stable parameters, and larger tanks have a greater capacity to absorb sudden changes and shifts than smaller tanks do. Couple getting ready for breeding is clearly seen in a tank – they move around the tank together one on another for weeks and they don’t get apart even when feeding. While most other snail speciesare used exclusively for keeping ecosystems clean, these critters have a different claim to fame. by Millie Sheppard; March 16, 2020; ... Read More. There weren’t many choices of livestock to get rid of snails before the Assassin Snail, and none desirable. After coupling female lay eggs one at time on solid objects. Many owners feed them Trumpet Snails, Rabbit Snails, Ivory Snails, and Ramshorn Snails. Frequently they may be fed with frozen blood worm and fresh chicken liver mince. Hungry snail doesn’t care that the majority of its time MTS spends in a bottom substrate – the predators watch them when they are coming out on a surface and eat them. Unfortunately, treating these infections is easier said than done. Juveniles just like Melaniidaeones turn over the upper layer of the tank substrate to find some feed leftovers. Assassin Snails (Clea helena) are one of the most useful animals in the aquarium hobby. It takes a couple of weeks for the eggs to hatch. Usually, they appear as white spots on the shell. Ordered 5 assassin's and received 6. It’s conical and features a blunt point on one end. Assassin Snail by Johannes Tausch. Tank conditions and diet play a big role in their overall health and lifespan. In general of course, a bigger tank is always better. It is a freshwater marine snail. Assassin Snails need high-quality water to thrive. The critters pair up and follow each other for several hours. They’re easy to care for, look great, and will get rid of any pest snails that might show up in your aquarium. At that point, the babies will bury themselves in the sand until they get a bit bigger and are ready to emerge. In aquariums, Assassin snail can live up to 5 years under optimal conditions. However, snails don’t feed on apple snails (Ampularia australis) eagerly, even the small ones they eat only in extreme cases. As such, they’re often introduced to tanks that are overrun by pest snails. Maximum Size: 3.5” Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons. You should, however, pay close attention to how effective your filtration is. They’re very low-maintenance and can thrive without much fuss. I came across them when I had snail infested tanks, but did not want to use harsh chemicals to kill the snails. The only thing you need to worry about is pairing them with tankmates that will see them as food! Hello, I have the aquarium co op sponge filters, and so far they have been great. Sergey is a founder and author of Meethepet.com. Common names in the trade include Assassin Snail and Snail-eating Snail. Both when keeping snails and when breeding the parameters of tank water aren’t very important, however it was noticed that when the water temperature is below 20 C (68 F) the snails temporally stop laying the eggs. Eggs hatching takes from 21 to 30 days and after that the juveniles hide away in the bottom substrate and live there till they are about 3-4 cm large. Breeding And Life Spans Of Assassin Snails; Is An Assassin Snail For You? Here are some of the most crucial care tips you need to follow. This has lead to the nickname “Bumblebee Snail.”. In the wild, Assassin Snails can be found in tropical climates. Not hermaphrodites, so need a male and female counterpart in order to reproduce. The mouth has an unusual structure: it is modified into a small proboscis, with the help of which the snails penetrate the victim’s shell and suck out the mollusk located in it. Their size greatly depends on external factors such as the type of food they are given to eat and the variety of food sources that are accessible to them. On its head, you’ll see two short tentacles. In the wild they predominantly like river banks or lakes. They’re found in tanks…, Vampire Crabs are one of the most stunning creatures you can keep in captivity. Care is rather simple since the snail is an enduring one. The assassin snail (Clea helena) is a freshwater snail belonging to the Buccinidae family.The term “whelk” is given to a few snail species from a variety of families, but the Buccinidae family contains the “true whelks”; a carnivorous group of snails. Their favorite type of food is actually other snails that are smaller than them. When buying Assassin Snails look for specimens that appear active. For the most part, Assassin Snails are very easy to take care of. Even still, you should be replacing a good portion of water every week. Black Devil Snails. In the wild inhabit in not very deep waters with pure water on the South-West of Asia – in Indonesia, Thailand. They don’t, additionally, breathe air, like a zebra snail would, which means that the tanks they live in can be a little … 3 Assassin Snails (Clea Helena) 1/2" to 3/4" Live Freshwater Snail Plants, $10.99; 20 (+1 DOA) 1.7 - 2.0 cm Assassin Snails Imported Directly From Thailand, $20.00; Assassin Snail - 10 pack, $18.00; 6 Beautiful Live Assassin Snails, pest snails control, $26.00; 20 … These snails have become super popular in the past several years because of their ability to sort of deal with a common problem of pest snails, the Ramshorn Snails, the Malaysian trumpet snails and etc. Whether you plan on using an Assassin Snail to control the snail population or not, they sure are a joy to look at. Rivers in Southeast Asia tend to be a bit alkaline, so the snails fair best in water conditions that mimic this quality. Rosalie Sibayan . Even a small collection of Assassin Snails can take care of a large colony of smaller species in a few weeks. It’s covered in brown and black specks, which undoubtedly help the snail blend in with the substrate. Assassin snail is a freshwater snail belonging to the Buccinidae family. If you don’t see the snail clinging onto the glass, they’re most likely hidden in the sand. … They’re prone to eating and destroying them. Growth rate is slow (when they are well fed they lay strings of eggs, one at the time. Anentome helena may be a serious threat to native freshwater gastropods in countries, when introduced. As such, they’re often introduced to tanks that are overrun by pest snails. Their neat patterns and low-maintenance… C Care Guides. They’re not picky either. Feed on malaysian trumpet snail only if there is no other shellfishes in a tank, and the snails aren’t fed with other types of feed (blood worm, brine shrimp etc.). Buccal opening of assassin snails is a tube using which they suck out their victim from its shell. Sometimes it’s possible to take them out, but it just partially solves the problem and gives a temporally result, since to clean from these species completely all the substrate and the plants in a tank is impossible. 8 minute read; Assassin Snail Care: Diet, Tank, Breeding & Lifespan. Half the shells arrived empty, and two had dead snails hanging out of the shell. For successful breeding it’s necessary to provide the breeding species with calm surroundings, give them enough feed and free them from intrusive tank mates, such as prawns and active fishes, especially cichlides, tiger вarb. They will obliterate unwanted pest snails and eliminate the need to use harsh, snail-killing chemicals in your aquarium. As the majority of other snails they won’t do in too soft water, since they need some mineral substances for their shell. You don’t want your snail problem to affect the whole tank! The Assassin Snail (Clea helena or Anentome helena) is a unique addition to freshwater tanks. Assassin snails do particularly well in captivity, and most will grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) in length. Assassin Snails will also feed off of the eggs from other snail species. These snails will often feed on larger snails, often burying themselves and ambushing their prey. The Chinese mystery snail is native (meaning it evolved naturally with its predators) in Southeast Asia, Japan, and eastern Russia. No comments … While most other snail species are used exclusively for keeping ecosystems clean, these critters have a different claim to fame. This snail is fantastic for removing bothersome, overabundant snails because it won’t attack your healthy shrimp or other fish and is easy to keep. The lifespan is about 2-3 years. After snail was fed it disappears as fast as it appeared – since it is a burrowing king of snails, it partially digs into the tank bottom substrate. Originally found throughout Southeast Asia, Assassin Snails have become very popular among aquarists. Most shells were attractive and what I was hoping for, but unfortunately they are just shells. The Assassin snail is found on the floor of these freshwater habitats. They hide in the sand and wait for an unsuspecting snail to walk on by. Assassin snails are one of the most useful animals in the aquarium hobby. If you notice any signs of sickness your best bet is to separate the snails from any fish that could get infected. This is normal behavior that the snails practice in the wild. While that is the norm, some enthusiasts have reported these gastropods living for upwards of 5 years! As we know, assassin snails don’t feed on adult theodoxus and neritina snails – since their shell sticks very tight to the surface and helena can’t get the shellfish out of it. Simply drop a few Assassin Snails in your aquarium and your problem is solved. I decided to follow the instructions for the two snails, but I am not expecting anything, as the traps are open and snails lifeless. The shellfish has a “cap” that covers its shell in case of danger. Clown Loaches are one of the most popular freshwater fish in the aquarium scene. Anentome helena or Clea helena) comes from South-West Asia, it’s often called an killer snail. Author Note: Since these little critters love to climb you should make sure that your tank is covered. They don't like to be bullied by big fish. In captivity, the average size of an Assassin Snail is about one inch in length. Assassin Snails are pretty solitary creatures. Assassin snail (lat. And Rabbit Snails have a small operculum used for defense, but unlike a Japanese Trap Door Snail, it covers only a portion of their aperture. by Alison Yang; February 18, 2020; Assassin Snails are a popular freshwater critter that many people want to own. This means that it lives within the freshwater aquatic biome. Plants are welcome, too. One of the most common issues these snails have to deal with is parasitic infections. Their unique colors are…, Their favorite type of food is actually other snails, Clown Loach Care: Tank Size, Food, Lifespan, Tank Mates…, Vampire Crab 101: Care, Habitat Setup, Tank Mates & More, 35 Peaceful Community Fish For Your Tank (Updated List), Malaysian Trumpet Snail 101: Detailed Info & Care Tips, Bucktooth Tetra 101: Care, Feeding, Aggression, & More, Glowlight Tetra 101: Care, Tank Mates, Breeding & More. This is a noticeable change in behavior as most snails don’t even acknowledge others in normal circumstances. They deserve it! Photo by Daniel. They’re carnivores that like to feed off of other snails! The wild Assassin Snail is bigger than the aquarium snails. Not only do they serve a practical purpose in fish tanks, but they’re very easy to care for. Assassin Snail Background. The Assassin Snail (Clea helena or Anentome helena) is a unique addition to freshwater tanks. This family contains a group of species known as true whelks, which are carnivorous snails. Also a majority of mystery snails rely on gills to breath but some need to surface to get air. Diet, tank conditions, breeding, and more. The shell itself has some unique properties as well. When it comes to equipment, there are no strict requirements either. The Assassin Snail, or Snail Eating Snail, is a small, easy-to-keep freshwater invert completely harmless toward fish and shrimps, but quite effective in reducing nuisance snail explosions. The average life span is around two years, though they can easily exceed this age in a … The shellfish has a “cap” that covers its shell in case of danger. Otherwise, they might not even make it to the 2-year mark. In this guide you’ll learn everything there is to know about Assassin Snail care. It’s recommended that you add 5 gallons to that size requirement for every two snails you own. Due to such a peculiarity of these snails an ideal tank substrate for them is sand or small pebbles (after sifting) sized 0.5-1.5 mm. There’s no need in any specific feeding. Some species can get into the tank accidentally together with plants (such as great ramshorn), Physa fontinalis, Acroloxus family species, and some of them – like Melanie species (malaysian trumpet snails), were bought to dig the bottom substrate. You may also find your snail snacking on brine shrimp or leftover flakes that fall to the bottom of the tank. Even a small collection of Assassin Snails can take care of a large colony of smaller sp… It has gray body with dark spots on it. Author Note: If you’re an owner who’s committed to maximizing the lifespan of your Assassin Snails, we highly encourage you to get a tank that exceeds the minimum recommended size. Many different kinds of parasites could infect Assassin Snails. The amount of eggs differs per species. The shells feature brown and yellow stripes. Assassin snails and rabbit snails breed slowly while pond snails, ramshorn snails and malaysian trumpet snails can breed each month. Basically, you get a bunch of benefits and zero drawbacks. Provided with optimal tank conditions one can get about 300 species less than is a year. The aquarium should be at least 30 gallons in size. Plus, most of the treatments used to heal fish are lethal to gastropods. Assassin snails do particularly well in captivity, and most will grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) in length. These snails have a unique diet that needs to be fulfilled. Of course, the snail’s movements are slow and steady. Temperament: Peaceful. Further contrasts can be seen with the lifespan and size of the bladder snail offspring. Typically feeds off algae and excessive food or debris in aquarium. Adult shellfish max size is up to 15-17 mm (sometimes there can be seen larger species). That’s because it has an operculum. 2. It’s all here. Assassin Snails aren’t aggressive to fish (not surprising). The snails bred in the 59 degrees F water lived an average of 403 days and had an average length of .24 inches. They’re more active at night and like to keep to themselves. Their neat appearance more than makes up for their diminutive nature! Aquarium Source is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Aside from their carnivorous nature, these snails aren’t aggressive at all and typically won’t even acknowledge other creatures. The average Assassin Snail lifespan is somewhere between 2 and 3 years. The movement caused by normal filters is more than enough current for these snails. Incredible closeup footage of how the Assassin Snail captures, kills, and eats snails with never-before-seen footage of everything. Learn more. Like all snails, Malaysian trumpet snails have a shell on their “back.” Their shell is elongated and resembles an ice cream cone, with swirling rings that gradually move upward to form a pointed apex at the top of the shell.. The shells may be solid colors or patterned, with colors ranging from white to pinkish, to yellow, to even brown and gray. Check out the video and find out what we've found on these two shrimp killers. It is found in many freshwater biomes but especially in Lake Toba, Indonesia. Because we’re such fans of this species we wanted to put together a dedicated care guide. The lifespan is about 2-3 years. They look like small boats with a yellowish bulb (0.1 mm in diameter) inside. We love talking about these animals and enjoy hearing from our readers. For the most part, a sandy substrate is the only high-priority requirement for Assassin Snails. The Behavior of the Assassin snails Although Assassin snails are considered nocturnal (active at night and bury themselves during the day time) this is not absolutely true. This is because these snails are carnivorous. It’s important to know that these snails like to dig and hide. Bottom-dwellers can work too. A Rabbit Snail shell looks similar to the cone shaped shells of Trumpet Snail and Assassin Snails. Mystery Snail 101: Care, Lifespan, Breeding, Food & More. His favorite aquariums are biotopes (Amazon River),  with Echinodorus and Angelfish. In fact, they can multiply quickly if you have many kept in one tank! Usually, keeping plants with snails is a bit risky. This is pretty par for the course when it comes to snails, and this species isn’t any different. The eyes are located on the ends to help the snail detect light and motion. The shape of this snail is conical with a yellow body and brown stripes on the golden-yellow shell. If you provide great care and have impeccable water quality in their tank, the chance of your Assassin Snail getting sick goes down significantly. They’ll do the same in captivity. When the snail feels threatened, it will retreat back into its shell for protection. Author Note: Despite their small size, these critters tend to have quite the presence in your tank. Some snails due to their fast breeding can become a real disaster in a tank. A well-balanced Freshwater Snail diet consists of: 1. At the very least, they should be kept in a 10-gallon tank. It is also extraordinarily eye-catching in planted aquariums, featuring a … You can keep a collection of 6 or more snails in one tank to increase the odds of successful breeding. Tylomelania are members of the family Pachychilidae, a freshwater-dwelling group within the predominantly marine Cerithioidea superfamily of gastropods. The tank has to be sufficient size and capacity to support an adult snail’s life. It feeds on worms and gastropods, and is often known as the "assassin snail" for its habit of eating other snails. Adults usually don’t eat the young, so you don’t need to worry about separating them. These creatures thrive when they have room. The feature of this kind is an elongated breathing tube that is always stretched forward as the snail moves. Assassin Snails are a popular freshwater critter that many people want to own. The average life span is around two years, though they can easily exceed this age in a well maintained aquarium. Many Assassin Snail owners prefer to stick these gastropods in tanks up to 30 gallons in size so they feel like they’re in an open space and have no need to try and escape. The interesting thing about this behavior is that the snail is fully capable of staying safe from most small predators. If those aren’t available, shrimp fry and bloodworms do just fine. Because of their tiny size, they’ll do just fine in a moderately-sized tank with plenty of places to explore. Assassin Snails are carnivorous and eat protein-based foods only. They really don’t care one way or another if you have plants! Here are some of our favorite Assassin Snail tank mates for you o consider: Assassin Snails have no problem breeding in captivity. However, they need to be gentle scavengers that won’t eat the snails. However, that’s not the case with Assassin Snails. The snail’s body takes on a light beige hue. It is a member of the whelk family Buccinidae, and one of very few whelks that lives its entire life in freshwater habitats. The snails do best with gently community fish that occupy the upper parts of the tank. So, if your tank has been occupied by snails, Clea helena – is one of the most popular and efficient ways to get rid of tank snails. Assassin Snail in Aquatic Community. Add a comment. Any significant shift into a cooler temperature range can lead to shell problems and death. It has gray body with dark spots on it. Temperatures should be on the warmer side. Filters should also be equipped with sponges to prevent any accidents and escapes. They live in slow-moving rivers filled with soft sand and plenty of rocks. When she's not writing about fish you can find her hiking, swimming, and doing yoga. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that snails can’t get sick. This means you could realistically supply a good population of feeder snails and let the Assassin Snail eat slowly over time! This is soft and easy for them to burrow in. Assassin Snails like to pace themselves and have a good amount of self-control (unlike a lot of fish). Assassin snails are predators and scavengers which feed both on live snails and on carrion or decaying organics, and this is what made them popular tank inhabitants. We highly recommend that you pick some up for yourself, but if you’re still on the fence feel free to let us know! Mystery snails are tropical snails, so the optimal temperature should be between 20 to 28°C (68 to 82.40°F). They’re fully capable of suffering from diseases like fish. Unlike other gastropods, these snails are not hermaphrodites. He’s been fond of aquarium husbandry since his early childhood.