Assassin Snail

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Assassin snails (Anentome helena) are popular freshwater aquarium snails known for hunting and eating pest snails, like bladder and ramshorn snails. They grow to about 0.7–1.25 inc hes and have distinct yellow-and-brown banding. They prefer stable, alkaline water (7.2-8.0 pH) and fine sandy substrates to bury themselves in. For an up-close look at how these predators track down and consume other snails using their retractable probosis Diet and Feeding While they love hunting pest snails, they are strict carnivores. Once the pest snail population is depleted, you must supplement their diet with high-protein foods like frozen bloodworms, sinking carnivore pellets, or fish flakes. They do not eat live aquarium plants. Care Requirements Assassin snails thrive in temperatures between 70°F and 80°F in well-established aquariums. They are highly sensitive to copper, which is fatal to them, so always check that your water treatments and medications are snail-safe. Breeding Unlike many common pest snails, assassin snails are not hermaphrodites—they have distinct male and female sexes. Because it is nearly impossible to tell their sex visually, it's best to buy a group of at least 5–6 if you want them to reproduce. Females lay single, square-shaped eggs on hard surfaces. They reproduce slowly compared to pest snails, making population control much easier. Tank Mates They can safely coexist with most peaceful fish and shrimp. However, you should avoid keeping them with larger, snail-eating fish like loaches and pufferfish, or in tanks where you want to keep ornamental snails (like Mystery or Nerite snails). Show more