Assassin Snail

Assassin Snail - Anentome helena

Care level: Easy
Max Size: 2cm
Diet: Carnivore
Temp: 22-27°C
PH: 7.2-8.0
Purchase size: 1cm

The Assassin Snail is a small carnivorous species that's been a popular choice of pest control for many years. These snails make a good substitute for certain species of fish that are often chosen for their snail eating habits, but often turn out to be inappropriate for the tank they're intended for. They spend much of their time resting in the sand substrate and searching for food with the help of their sensitive proboscis, which picks up the scent of food over long distances. Once food is detected, the snails are surprisingly fast at getting to it. This snail bears an attractive pattern of yellow and brown stripes.

In the aquarium their primary function has always been population control for pest snails. As they will eat other molluscs, they can be good at tracking down smaller bladder snails and malaysian trumpet snails, which often breed to the point of becoming an outright infestation. The Assassins themselves will of course also breed, but not typically at the alarming rate that the pest snails are known for. Additionally, they do make a valuable part of the aquarium's clean up crew as they have a taste for all things meaty. They will happily consume any uneaten flakes and pellets and have a good root around in the sand for any other food, turning the sand as they go. Larger snails are typically not targeted by the assassins though.

You can supplement their diet from time to time with sinking wafers and bloodworms.

If you have any questions about keeping this fish, please contact us and a member of our friendly store team will be more than happy to answer all of your questions

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