Assassin snails are infamous for killing other snails. They’re like the census police brought to tackle an invasive snail problem in an aquarium and they come in to save the day by wiping them out. However, their benefits sometimes turn into an issue when placing them with other tankmates becomes problematic due to their predatory nature. Hence, it’s crucial to know the suitability of your pets’ cohabitants to avoid any dangers.
Some aquarium fish can cohabit with assassin snails without eating them or getting eaten. Sadly, the same can’t be said for other snail species like mystery, nerite, or other non-predatory snails. Whether the prey snail is far bigger than the assassin, they’re still in danger of getting eaten.
How Do I Choose Compatible Tank Mates For Assassin Snails?
Assassin snails are limited to living with freshwater aquaria fish instead of non-predatory snails due to their tendency to hurt or kill them. They must also coexist with non-predatory fish to avoid getting bullied or killed.
In addition, the tankmates must be able to survive under the same water parameters as assassin snails which entail temperature, acidity, water hardness, and ammonia levels. The table below shows you the correct water parameters for assassin snails.
| Parameters | Ideal Range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 70 – 80 (°F) |
| pH | 7.6 – 8.0 |
| Ammonia (NH3/NH4+) | 0 |
| Nitrite (NO2-) | 0 |
| Nitrate (NO3-) | 0 |
| Copper (Cu) | 0 |
| Water hardness | 150 – 300 ppm |
| Salinity | 0 |
Choosing compatible tank mates for your assassin snails compels you to consider their living condition, separate diets, and behaviors to find a gray area where both parties can dwell. The needs of your assassin snails must not overshadow that of its tankmates and vice versa.
The 10 Most Suitable Tankmates For Assassin Snails
Algae-eating fishes are the best cohabitants for assassin snails. They help clean the tank as well as avoid preying on the assassin snails encouraging a peaceful surrounding altogether. No one eats the other and everyone stays out of the other’s way. I’ve made a list of them below:
1. Siamese Algae Eater
The Siamese fish are voracious algae eaters that are famous for their tank-cleaning skills. They are one of the best algae eaters to keep with killer snails as opposed to non-predatory algae-eating snails that will get devoured by the assassins. However, you must provide several hiding spots since they tend to get territorial with time.
2. Hillstream Loaches
These freshwater fish are mainly found around flowing water where there is enough airflow and movement. They are quite social and prefer to be around their kind. Hence, your tank must provide air stones to propel enough oxygen and current. Other than the need for movement and oxygen, they can coexist with your assassin snails happily eating algae and minding their business.
3. Twig Catfish
Similarly to hillstream loaches, twig catfish are social and should be kept in schools. They’re peaceful and interesting, preferring to eat algae and supplemental foods like sinking fish pellets. Twig catfish get their name from resembling twigs which they use for camouflage, adding a bit of drama into your aquarium. So, you must provide enough driftwood to keep them feeling well-camouflaged and secure in their environment.
4. Rosy Barb
These colorful fish bring vibrancy and fun into your tank with their intricate colors and display. They consume different types of algae and can do well in the same water parameters as assassin snails. However, they are territorial and can be aggressive to other fish during mating seasons. So, I advise you to place only one male to avoid them from nipping at themselves since they are schooling fish and prefer to be around their kind.
5. Cherry Barb
Cherry barbs are a variant of the same species of rosy barbs and they function similarly. The difference is that cherry barbs are smaller compared to rosy barbs and are generally friendlier species. They can mingle with other fish that are not their kind, including mollusks like your assassin snail. If you have a small-sized aquarium, the cherry barbs will suit you better than the rosy barbs. Still, the cherry is also a schooling fish and prefers to live with more of its kind.
6. Bristlenose Pleco
Bristlenose plecos are species of catfish fit for home aquariums as they grow to about 5 inches and come in various colors. They are docile and make peaceful aquarium mates for your assassin snails. They can exist without a school and are omnivorous in nature, so you’d need a complete diet of plant-based and animal-based fish food. You must also provide hiding spots and plants as they naturally prefer to camouflage.
7. Dwarf Suckers
Dwarf suckers, just like bristlenose plecos, are a type of catfish. They grow to 2 inches in size and are great algae eaters. They may be small, but their swiftness allows them to avoid getting bullied by other fish. In addition, they’re peaceful and prefer to live in tanks without threats, such as one with your assassin snail. They absolutely love algae, and are often advised to be introduced into tanks with an abundance. The downside of these fish is their delicacy; if the parameters are unfavorable or the aquarium is not properly cycled, they might die on getting introduced into the tank. So you must ensure that all the parameters—which are the same as your assassin snails’ needs—are correct.
8. White Cloud Mountain Minnow
These species of fish are peaceful and hardy, preferring to live in schools. They are omnivorous and are not the best algae-eaters compared to the aforementioned. However, they make great assassin snail companions due to their peaceful nature. They are mostly carnivorous, specifically preferring bloodworms and protein flakes, which can easily be rationed between them and your assassin snails. They prefer tanks with various plants to enable them to feel more secure, including hiding spots and driftwood.
9. Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras are bottom-dwelling fish that enjoy scouting for debris, algae, and leftovers. They are peaceful tankmates that prefer to live in schools, so you’d need to get at least 5 corys for them to be pleased. They enjoy smooth substrate as compared to jagged gravel to prevent them from injuring their bodies as they swim along the floor.
10. Harlequin Rasbora
Harlequin rasboras are pretty shiny fish that are great for cohabitation. They are peaceful, docile, and social fish preferring to live in schools. They have an omnivorous diet consisting of small worms, pellets, invertebrates, and algae excluding mollusks like assassin snails. They enjoy the same water parameters as assassin snails and will make nice tankmates altogether.
| Fish Species | Size In Inches | Special Requirements | Required Temperature ( Fahrenheit) | Schooling: Yes/No | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siamese Algae Eater | 5 – 6 | Hiding spots and plants | 75° – 79° | No | Great |
| Hillstream Loaches | 3 – 4 | Air stones hiding spots | 68° – 75° | Yes | Good |
| Twig Catfish | 3 – 4 | Planted tank with driftwood and rocks | 72° – 79° | No | Great |
| Rosy Barb | 2.5 – 6 | Planted tank with open swimming areas | 64°- 72° | Yes | Fair |
| Cherry Barb | 1.5 – 2 | Planted tank with open swimming areas | 73° – 81° | Yes | Great |
| Bristlenose Pleco | 5 – 6 | Driftwood and hiding spots | 72° – 82° | No | Fair |
| Dwarf Suckers | 1.5 – 2 | Planted tank with hiding spots | 72° – 79° | Yes | Good |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | 1.8 – 2 | Planted tank, hiding spots, and driftwood | 64° – 72° | Yes | Fair |
| Corydoras Catfish | 1.5 – 4 | Sand substrate and hiding spots | 72° – 79° | Yes | Great |
| Harlequin Rasbora | 1.5 – 2 | Planted tank with open swimming area | 73° – 81° | Yes | Good |
The Problematic Tankmates For Assassin Snails— Cohabitants To Avoid
Some tankmates are unfavorable for assassin snails either to protect the cohabitant or the assassin snail in question. Specifically, you must avoid snails which are the assassin’s common prey, and fishes that are simply too aggressive. Here are their examples:
- Other Snails. Non-predatory snails such as nerite, mystery, pond, bladder, and ramshorn snails will get eaten if placed with assassin snails. I highly do not recommend them to be put together.
- Bettas. Betta fish are sometimes aggressive and while they may not actively prey on assassin snails, they can develop a habit of preying on them once or twice. This is why not all bettas are dangerous to aquatic snails, yet it’s a risk you may not be willing to try. It depends on how attached you are to your snails.
- Tetras. Large tetras like serpae tetra are capable of harassing and attacking assassin snails as they are competitive. They may also be seasonally aggressive, attacking other fish including mollusks during breeding seasons.
- Shrimp. The debate on whether assassin snails eat shrimp or not is still ongoing as you read this, and I’m here to tell you that they DO eat shrimp. The only thing stopping them is that shrimps are difficult to catch. Despite that, assassins can build habits and some tanks are unfortunate to have killer snails that enjoy eating shrimp. It depends on whether you’re willing to risk putting the two animals together in one tank.
Are Assassin Snails Aggressive?
Assassin snails are not aggressive but are skillful hunters. They will not attack other animals unless they consider them as food. Unlike some territorial fishes, assassin snails can dwell with suitable tankmates without causing any trouble. Just ensure that your pets are well-fed at all times with the proper diet, and you’re good to go.
