What Is An Assassin Snail? An Introduction To Assassin Snails For Beginners

Before snails were considered adorable, they were mainly cultivated for food. In prehistoric times, evidence of snails being nurtured and prepared for feasts and delicacies has been found, which set the initial motive for breeding snails. It wasn’t until the mid-1950s that snails as pets began to take a grip on aquarists. This interest in snails brought about an explosion of colorful species including the unforeseen invasion of pest snails. Due to this, predatory snails were necessary to tackle the problem.

Assassin snails are a species of freshwater snail that are known for their predatory nature. They are native to Southeast Asia but are currently distributed and bred around the world for their hunting properties and control over pest snail populations. Thanks to their predation of invasive species, they are well-sought and marketed by aquarists and environment enthusiasts.

At the end of this article, you’ll be able to expertly describe what assassins are, summarizing their predatory lifestyle and how to care for them in an aquarium. Let’s get into it!

Appearance And Biology: How Do They Look?

Assassin snails, also known scientifically as clea helena, are a type of predatory freshwater snail classified under the family umbrella Nassariidae. They are closely related to Dog Whelk snails who are also carnivorous.

Assassins are commonly called killer snails, snail-eating snails, or bumblebee snails with the latter directly referring to their appearance. They have a cone-like shell with black and yellow stripes swirling around the shell from base to tip, making them look similar to bumblebees! It’s difficult to confuse the snails for other species since they only appear in that coloration and pattern.

Assassin snails grow to 1 to 2 inches in size at most starting from hatchling to adult in 4 months. The table below describes assassin snails in further detail their biological description:

Demeanor: How Do Assassin Snails Behave?

Despite being predatory, assassin snails are not aggressive. They are quite relaxed and mostly indifferent about their surroundings, choosing to rest more than explore. Bumblebee snails are not territorial and can cohabit with most inhabitants peacefully aside from their regular prey. They are slow and relaxed mollusks, not as active as pond or bladder snails. They only attack when they’re hungry or perceive their potential prey around their corner.

Do Assassin Snails Bite?

Assassin snails do not bite for the sake of defense or attack. Even when they’re eating, they scrape at the flesh of their prey eating tiny pieces at a time instead of taking bites. Their only defense mechanism is their shell which they will retract into when faced with danger. So, you can handle assassin snails without worrying that they’ll bite you. Just make sure to wash your hands after the ordeal.

How Do Assassin Snails Sleep?

Assassin snails have a fairly unstable sleep pattern. They sleep depending on how they feed which could either make them more nocturnal than diurnal, or vice versa. Instead of crawling around during the day and sleeping through the night, they will take short naps systematically after their meals and wake when they need to eat or refill.

Assassins sleep in cozy hidden spaces like the books or crannies of decor, or under the sandy substrate. Sometimes, they sleep in the open if they’re comfortable enough to. It all depends on the snail in particular. As tiny as they are, they are individually different with their distinct preferences and behaviors influencing their mode of conduct.

Habitat: Where Do Assassin Snails Live?

Assassin snails are native to Southeast Asia in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, but are now found all over the world. In their native areas, the bumblebee snails are neighbors to other freshwater mollusks like pond or trumpet snails which they prey on naturally. You’d find them in slow-flowing freshwater with sandy, muddy substrates like ponds, rivers, and lakes where the snails burrow to sleep or ambush their prey.

Assassin snails DO NOT live in salty water and will die upon acclimation to the salinity. They are strictly unable to live in seawater or aquariums treated with salt.

For their ultimate survival, the body of water where they reside must be to a temperature of 70° to 80°F, pH of 7.8, and a water hardness of 150 – 300 ppm.

Diet: What Do Assassin Snails Eat?

Assassin snails are carnivores and detritivores; they eat other snails and decaying matter. Plant-based food is not sought after by them as they have no nutritional requirement to gain. Instead, they acquire these non-essential nutrients as trace elements from their plant-eating prey.

As long as protein and calcium are provided, assassin snails are as healthy as can be! The following are nutritious food items to feed your bumblebee snails:

Apple Snails

Apple snails are a distinct type of freshwater snail from assassins and are predominantly herbivorous. They reproduce rapidly and are even considered invasive in some areas, so much so that there are laws regulating the import and breeding of the species. They voraciously feed on aquatic plants and reproduce crazily out of control. However, they come in beautiful colors and designs and can grow as big as golf balls which make them appealing to aquarists… including to predatory assassin snails.

Trumpet Snails

The trumpet snails are the most unfortunate prey as they’re the closest neighbors to assassin snails. Despite their high fertility rates, they are not nearly as invasive as apple snails. This is due to them being situated around assassin snails who devote their entire life to killing and eating them up!

Ramshorn Snails

These prey snails are distinct for resembling a coiled horn and have turned invasive due to trading and their ability to quickly reproduce. Ramshorns are notorious for hitchhiking into aquariums and populating the space, which is usually when assassin snails are introduced. In a few weeks, the bumblebees would have eaten them all up.

Pond Snails

Pond snails are found in freshwater bodies all over Europe and Asia and are also skilled in hitchhiking into aquariums and populating where they’re not welcome. As usual, assassin snails are brought in to save the day. They feast on pond snails relentlessly due to their small sizes being able to kill about two in a day. They can also be bred specifically to be fed to assassin snails in aquariums.

Shrimp

The debate on whether assassin snails will eat aquarium shrimp or not is currently being held by keypad warriors and aquarists. The ultimate truth is that they will eat shrimp. Bumblebee snails will eat anything that moves if it’s convenient for them. As long as there’s no perceivable toxin, they’d be on the trail of attack until they’re fed. Shrimps are not the usual prey for assassin snails because they’re too fast to catch, but they can be eaten if they’re weak enough to be grabbed.

Blood Worms

Frozen blood worms are a usual delicacy for pet assassin snails as they contain the protein and trace minerals that they need to stay healthy. Bloodworms are the larvae of small flying insects called midges, who lay their eggs in freshwater. The eggs hatch into small red worms that assassin snails enjoy.

Detritus

Decay from animals or plants is called detritus, and assassin snails have specific chemoreceptors to help them locate such. They enjoy feeding on dead animals not only because it’s delicious, but because it’s easier to eat. A good percentage of their meals in the wild are made up of dead animals that have sunk to the bottom of the water and have begun decaying. Despite the rather unpleasant state of the meal, it’s still nutritious for bumblebee snails providing the protein and calcium they need.

Fish Food

Assassin snails kept and pampered in aquariums can be fed fish food as they’re highly proteinous and nutritious for them. Carnivorous fish pellets are the best when it comes to feeding assassin snails fish food, unlike algae wafers since they don’t eat algae naturally.

Algae

The extremely minor sector of an assassin snail’s diet contains algae, which they eat when they’ve run out of options. Algae is not anywhere near nutritious but is a fairly sustainable source of energy when the need is dire. It can ultimately keep the snails alive for as long as possible before they die from malnutrition.

How Often Do Assassin Snails Eat?

Assassin snails eat daily whether they’re hunting down prey, feeding on decay, or grazing on algae. They can also survive for days to weeks without actively feeding, though it’s not advisable. In captivity, the best feeding pattern for your assassin snails is daily or every other day depending on how adequately you perform water changes.

Assassin snails can eat up two small snails (snails smaller than their size in perspective) or one bigger than them daily. They do not need to be fed twice a day and may eat systematically throughout the whole day, taking breaks now and then. Regardless of the choice you make, it’s crucial to remove your snail’s food from the tank to prevent it from rotting and raising ammonia levels which will eventually kill them.

Reproduction: How Do Assassin Snails Breed?

Assassin snails reproduce by sexual copulation requiring both male and female to mate and produce eggs. Unlike other freshwater snails, assassins have a slow breeding rate, mandating the most favorable conditions for reproduction to be successful. For example, there must be an abundance of food, laying spots, and a stable and warm temperature.

Assassins usually start copulating when the water temperature ranges from 75° to 78° Fahrenheit and can lay eggs several times a month. They lay eggs singularly, instead of in clutches, and will scatter them on various surfaces underwater.

How Do I Differentiate Male Assassin Snails From Females?

It can be challenging to visually differentiate assassin snails by sex. The males and females look identical and typically grow at the same rate to the same size of 2 inches. The only way to determine if an assassin snail is male or female is by observing them during their mating season where males do the mounting when they mate. If you find a snail frivolously mounting the other to near extinction, it’s a male assassin snail. In some cases, it’s advised to remove or separate the active males from the females to prevent them from mating to death.

Life Cycle: The Stages Of Growth Of Assassin Snails

Bumblebee snails undergo five stages before they reach maturity. While they can live up to 4 years under intentional and proper care, they usually live to 2 years in the wild. Five stages make up an assassin snail’s life cycle as follows:

1. Egg Stage

Adult assassin snails can lay between 4 to 15 eggs per month. The square-shaped white eggs are scattered around the laying area on surfaces and are usually difficult to remove or even to find.

2. Hatchling Stage

Assassin snail eggs take two months to hatch before they become blobs(snail babies) or hatchlings. After hatching, they burrow into the substrate and feed on detritus, food particles, or biofilm.

3. Juvenile Stage

After a month, the hatchlings emerge from majorly living in the substrate to become juveniles. Although they’re too small to hunt, they can move around and graze on more detritus or dead animals.

4. Adult Stage

After another month, juvenile snails become adults and begin proper hunting. They are fully equipped with strong shells and strong muscular feet to help them kill and eat their prey effectively. With a good stable diet, they will reproduce a couple of times before they grow into elder snails.

5. Elder Stage

Upon reaching two years old, an assassin snail is considered an elder. They become weaker and less active, hunting, feeding, and breeding less frequently than usual. Most bumblebees usually die at this age, but can easily exceed this point with proper care.

The Pros And Cons Of Keeping Assassin Snails

Keeping assassin snails comes with their flaws and benefits. While they’re generally easy pets to keep, here are the unique problems you may face keeping them:

Cons Of Keeping Assassin Snails

• Snails like apple or ramshorn snails are incompatible with assassins as they’re predatory. It’s crucial to choose suitable tankmates for assassins to permit peaceful cohabitation. These are mostly algae-eating fish such as cherry barbs or Siamese algae eaters.
• Be prepared to handle live snails as part of their diet. It’s necessary to throw in a couple of live feeder snails even when they have other food options like fish pallets.
• They reproduce slowly and may never breed if you don’t get the parameters right.
• They’re less active than other snails, choosing to only nap and eat. So you may find them boring with time.
• They are terrible tank cleaners as they do not eat algae.

Pros Of Keeping Assassin Snails

• They are hardy and easy to keep.
• Due to their low production rates, they hardly grow invasive.
• They are great at handling invasive snail species.
• They can be bred for profit.
• They do not eat aquarium plants.

How Do I Keep Assassin Snails As Pets?

Keeping assassin snails as pets is pretty easy. All you need is a sizable and well-cycled tank with a sandy substrate and you’re good to go! They are not social creatures, so you can start with one snail if you’re not sure about their breeding. If you don’t mind having more, you can throw 2 to 4 snails into the aquarium.

The tank size should be comfy enough for the number of snails and the decor they will live with. The easiest way to estimate the most suitable space for your assassin snails is by dedicating one gallon to a snail, and two to three more to each decor depending on the size of each piece. You must also provide equipment to stabilize and regulate the temperature bringing it to the suitable range for your pets. If you live in cold areas, you need a heater to warm up the tank to the desired temperature else your snails will die of hypothermia.

Below is a clear list of what your tank requires to keep assassin snails:

• A good filtration system. An aquarium filter (view on Amazon) helps to keep your tank clean by sucking in water, filtering the dirt and debris, and returning the water into the tank.
• Sandy substrates. Assassin snails prefer a sandy floor that they can dig into to rest and ambush prey.
• Aquarium decor. Driftwood and plants are welcome to keep the snail’s habitat natural. They are heavily influenced by their environment, which in turn determines their activity in the tank. If your pet feels stressed by the unusual habitat, it will become less active and unwilling to eat, which could affect its growth negatively.
• A Thermometer. To keep track of the temperature in the tank, you need a reliable thermometer (view on Amazon) to ensure your pets are safe and comfortable.
• Thermostat. To help you keep a stable temperature in the tank, a thermostat is needed (view on Amazon) to either trigger the cooling or heating system to reach the desired temperature. It’s especially necessary if you live in rather too-cold or too-hot areas.
• Temperature Regulators (Heaters/Coolers). An aquarium heater is needed to warm up the tank as the cooler is used to bring down the temperature. If you live in areas where room temperature goes below 70°F and above 80°F, temperature regulators are highly necessary.
• Cuttlefish Bone. Cuttlefish bone is essential for your snails to grow strong and healthy shells. Without it, your pets will grow a calcium deficiency which will result in shell thinning, erosion, and collapse which is fatal to them. By throwing a couple of bones into your tank, you’re saving your pets from gruesome deaths from a highly preventable situation.

How Do I Breed Assassin Snails For Profit?

To breed assassin snails is easier than it may seem. Once the conditions are right, they will mate and lay eggs monthly until they populate the entire aquarium. The tricky part is getting them comfortable enough to copulate, and it’s easy-peasy from there.

Here are easy steps to follow:

• Ensure the tank is properly cycled.
• Assassin snails need an abundance of prey snails to feel at home. In addition to feeding them food like blood worms or pallets, throw in a couple of snails now and then to keep them active and moving.
• The temperature should be around 75°F and 80°F for them to begin mating. They only mate and lay in warm temperatures.
• Provide laying spots such as driftwood in the tank. This will enable them to lay their eggs after they mate.
• Ensure that the water parameters are correct at all times. If the ammonia is off, assassin snails will refuse to lay their eggs. They can mate and withhold laying for as long as it takes to become comfortable.

Do Assassin Snails Pass Illnesses?

Sadly, assassin snails can infect you with schistosomiasis which is transferred via a parasite they carry. This parasite is called a blood fluke and can be transmitted to you if you handle a wild snail carelessly. Upon transmission, the flukes burrow into your skin causing skin damage and further infecting you with pathogens that lead to the disease.

It’s crucial to quarantine your wild-caught snails before acclimating them into your tank, to ensure that they are not harboring parasites. In addition, you must wash your hands properly after handling them to ensure your safety through and through.