Assassin snail

Anentome helena

FreshwaterSnail

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F; 22–27°C
pH: 6.5–8.0
Adult size: 1 in; 2.5 cm
Minimum tank: 5 gal; 20 L

Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Tankmates: With caution
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Family: Nassariidae
Origin: Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia

Overview

Keep them as solitary bottom dwellers or in small numbers; they don't need company. They are mostly peaceful toward adult fish and shrimp but will eat pest snails, which is the usual reason people buy them. Hold water at 22 to 27 C and pH between 6.5 and 8. Feed sinking protein foods like bloodworms or a meaty pellet if you run out of snails for them.

In the wild

Assassin snails come from rivers, streams, and lakes across Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, where they burrow into sandy or muddy bottoms. Give them a soft sand substrate so they can dig the way they do in the wild. A tank of 20 liters or more works, and they'll spend most of their time on or just under the bottom.

Good to know

This is a freshwater snail in the family Nassariidae, most of which are saltwater. It tops out around 2.5 cm with a cone-shaped shell banded in brown and yellow. It is a carnivore that hunts other snails and scavenges meaty leftovers. Wild populations are stable.

Did you know

They hunt by smell and use a drill-like radula to bore into a prey snail's shell, then reach in to feed. They will also work in pairs or groups to overpower a snail bigger than themselves.