The habitat of aquatic snails is made up of prey and predators based on their dietary necessities, and it’s quite normal for snails to munch on each other. As small and simple as these shelled beings are, some of them are capable of plotting and hunting prey, while others are equipped with defenses to keep themselves safe.
Assassin snails are predators and carnivores in nature. They eat mystery snails and several other species of small aquatic life that are easy prey. They have developed various strategies to support their diet, including hunting, attacking, and even ambushing their prey to feed.
If you’re looking to provide a tankmate for your snail pet or are considering getting two snails of different species, it’s highly necessary to consider their compatibility to ensure their survival.
Why Do Assassin Snails Kill And Eat Mystery Snails?
Assassin snails target mystery snails because they’re preferably fleshier and slower to catch. They also enjoy ramshorn snails and would gravitate towards either of them faster than other food sources. These little knights also enjoy the hunt that keeps them active and a rewarding meal thereafter without going above and beyond.
What Do Assassin Snails Eat? The Dietary Lifestyle of Assassin Snails
Assassin snails primarily depend on protein to survive. They obtain other minerals and vitamins from their prey, which are sufficient for their well-being. To better understand their diet, here are the various items assassin snails eat:
Smaller Snails
Assassin snails actively hunt and devour bladder snails, pond snails, and mystery snails, leaving the shells behind. They are also fond of hunting hatchlings and prefer smaller-sized snails over mature ones since they are more vulnerable and easier to eat. However, when options are limited, they can hang up and prey on large adult snails as well.
Worms
Worms make good additions to the food menu of assassin snails. They are abundant in their natural habitats and are easier to eat without the disturbance of shells that snails have. Blood worms, tubifex worms, black worms, and grindal worms are all nutritious food options to feed assassin snails.
Shrimp
Shrimp is one of the ingredients in processed snail and fish food and is quite delicious and nutritious for assassin snails. However, they are not natural prey for assassins because they have a different body build compared to the soft bodies of snails and they swim faster, making them almost impossible to hunt. Nonetheless, you can feed your assassin snails frozen shrimp as long as they’re deshelled and cut into smaller pieces.
Sinking Pellets or Fish Flakes
Fish flakes and sinking pellets are good additions to the diet of assassin snails alongside their diet of live snails. These processed foods contain all the necessary nutrients an assassin snail requires to stay healthy. Although they may not be as excited about processed foods since their biological makeup encourages hunting, they will still fare well and live healthy lives with pallets and fish flakes.
How Do Assassin Snails Hunt And Kill Mystery Snails? The Three-Step Routine
Assassin snails are quite predatory and eat nothing other than protein sources in the form of mystery snails, bladder snails, and any other significantly smaller species. However, you may be wondering how they go about catching their prey. Assassin snails use three specific steps to hunt :
Detection of Prey
Assassin snails have strong chemoreceptors that alert them to the presence of prey. If a mystery snail is in their vicinity, they will locate the exact area from where the signals are coming and move towards the potential meal. These chemoreceptors allow them to filter other scents by profiling the chemicals and determining the type of animal they’re perceiving, helping them decide whether to follow the scent or not.
Stalking Mode
Assassin snails generally move faster than mystery snails, which makes it easier for them to hunt their prey. Once they spot their prey, assassin snails relentlessly pursue it until they catch up. They also have the ability to stay still and in disguise, until their prey walks by in an attempt to ambush and kill, most of which turns out successful.
Attack
Upon reaching their target, assassin snails inject a neurotoxic compound into the prey using their proboscis, paralyzing the prey within seconds. Once the mystery snail is paralyzed, the assassin snail proceeds to consume its target alive until there is nothing edible left to feed on.
Should I Keep Assassin Snails or Mystery Snails? A Practical Perspective
Since it’s not advisable to keep assassin snails with mystery snails, you may need to decide on which snail to keep. Both options have their pros and cons, and depending on your resources, you can easily decide on the right pet. The table below will help you assess your situation and come up with an answer.
Pros And Cons Of Assassin Snails
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great with controlling the population of pest/stowaway snails | They can hardly coexist with other snail inhabitants |
| They’re low-maintenance pets | Extremely poor algae control |
| They do not populate out of control | They only enjoy eating small snails more than anything else |
| May be fun to observe if you fancy predatory behavior | Can cause even fish to fall sick if they come in contact with their neurotoxins |
| Relatively less poop to clean compared to several other snails | They’re a bit difficult to remove from the tank after they’ve populated |
The Pros And Cons Of Mystery Snails
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| They’re colorful and beautiful for the visual appeal | They poop a whole lot which would require frequent tank cleaning |
| They’re fairly good algae eaters | They lay numerous clutches of eggs weekly under the right circumstances which would require you to scrape out eggs frequently |
| They can coexist with other snails and inhabitants | They may eat your plants if it’s delicious |
| They have a diverse diet of protein and veggies | They overpopulate easily |
| They lay their eggs in visible positions above the waterline making it easier to manage | They are fond of crawling out of the tank and falling to their doom |
Verdict
If you’re seeking less work and fewer inhabitants, the assassin snail will suit your lifestyle better. On the other hand, mystery snails allow you to diversify your aquarium and maintain algae control. Although they’re not the best algae eaters, they do a better job compared to assassin snails. If you settle for mystery snails, you can place nerite snails to attend to the algae without having to go through the stress of cleaning.
How Do Mystery Snails Defend Themselves From Predators?
Mystery snails defend themselves by retracting into their shells and closing the operculum which serves as a door. They also secrete a funky-smelling mucus that helps deter and ward off the predator giving them enough time to escape. However, the assassin snail’s neurotoxin is no match for mystery snails as they’re able to find soft spots with their proboscis and inject the compound into their prey.
Can Assassin Snails Eat Mystery Snails That Are Much Larger Than Them?
There’s a common misconception that assassin snails will not hurt large mystery snails. This is entirely wrong because while they may not eat the larger snails, they can still hurt and kill them with their toxin. Whatever the size differences may be, they are still predators and are too dangerous to have around your mystery snail. If you’re fond of your pet, it’s best to prevent the problem by separating them.
Do Assassin Snails Eat Their Kind?
Assassin snails are cannibalistic sometimes. Although they prefer to eat other snails rather than their sort, they’re capable of feeding on themselves. When resources are low, assassins will resort to other options such as scavenging, attacking large animals in comparison to the regular small-sized options, or cannibalism.
Do Mystery Snails Eat Assassin Snails?
Mystery snails are not predators but they’re omnivorous. So, they’ll eat both plants and animal sources. They feed on protein matter by scavenging for decaying animals. If there’s a dead assassin snail in the tank, the mystery snail will crawl over and have a feast! They do this for any kind of decaying animals they find around and have a liking for the smell of decay.
