Snail Name: Snail killer /Assassin Snail/ Bumble Bee Snail (Anetome Helena/ Clea Helena)

Origin: Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Thailand

Description: The Snail killer has a conical shell with shades of yellow and black stripes that resemble a bumblebee hence the name Bumblebee snail. The average size of a mature adult Killer snail is 2.5cm. This is a predatory snail that only feeds on other snail and is not known to eat plants or algae.

Water Parameters: Adjusts well to favorable temperatures of 22-27 °C.

Sexing: Unknown, but they are NOT hermaphrodites. It is difficult to sex these species as both sexes are not easy to tell apart. They are gonochoristic species.

Breeding: In order to successfully breed these species, large numbers are required as this is the only way to ensure that both sexes are present. Unlike other snails that lay a significant number of eggs at once, the snail killer only lays an average of one egg a month or so. The young ones have a slow growth rate and once the eggs have hatched they will not been seen for a couple of months.

Compatibility: This snail will do well in any tank except if grouped with predatory fish like the puffer and clown fish as these fish are known to enjoy a snail snack. The Snail Killer will do a good job of getting rid of those ever multiplying snails like the Tadpole snails, Pond Snails, Malaysian Trumpet Snails and the Ramshorn Snails.