It is called a Snail Eating Snail or to crudely phrase it an “Assassin Snail”. As the name suggests it is a snail that pretty much eats other snails except its own kind. Often enough aquarists are forced to either use tiresome approaches such as hand picking or spend more money buying chemicals that might work but end up killing other natural inhabitants such as shrimp and plankton. With an Assassin snail one need only introduce it to the tank and it will do the rest. Aquarium hobbyists are constantly looking for approaches to not only beautify their tanks but also reduce the presence of foreign objects such as human hands within a tank. There is always the possibility of chemicals such as body lotions and antibacterial soaps being introduced to tanks and this will ultimately lead to the demise of the tank inhabitants. Furthermore environment friendly approaches will likely make aquatic inhabitants safer and healthy. The more the tank appears natural the closer we are to actually replicating the natural habitat of aquatic animals.

The Assassin snail comes from the family class: Clea Helena and formely known as Anentome Helena. What makes this Snail intriguing is its ability to swallow other snails out of their own shells and leave behind an empty shell with nothing in it. Ramshorm snails, Pond snails, and even Malaysian Trumpet snails are considered prey in the presence of the Snail Eating Snail. Those that house bigger snails such as Nerites need not worry as the Assassin snail is able to cohabitate with these snails side by side. In addition to not eating bigger snails it also does not eat shrimp unless they are dead. Just as it is able to suck out a snail from its shell, it is also able to suck out of all the flesh from a shrimp carcass and leave behind what almost looks like a molted shell.

Those that worry about overpopulating snails need only a few Assassin snails in number in order to appreciate their craftsmanship in dealing with the “snail population”. Usually an average of 5 – 10 snails will do the trick. Within days, one will begin to notice the presence of empty snail shells. Once they have eradicated the “snail problem” some are left pondering the post-snail population boom question. What now since all the pesty snails have been eliminated? The good news is that the diet of Assassin snails though heavily reliant on snails is not the only alternative. They can feed on detritus and will not be out to get each other. They will not eat the plants nor will they start attacking other invertebrates within the aquarium.

This snail does not easily reproduce as it has distinct sexual organs. If it happens to reproduce one is likely to see the presence of at least one snail after several months have passed. The Assassin’s work ethic is well appreciated by aquarium hobbyists so much so that they wish these snails reproduced quickly but not at the disturbing rate of the pond snails and other hermaphroditic snails.

Assassin Snail – is indeed such an appropriate name for a creature that hunts down its prey without prejudice.