Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping => Invertebrates - Shrimps and Snails => Topic started by: Vanadia on September 14, 2021, 04:47:43 PM

Title: Assassin Snails reproducing too much
Post by: Vanadia on September 14, 2021, 04:47:43 PM

I had a snail problem in my 80 litre aquarium, the populations of pest snails (which came in on a plant) and  Malaysian Trumpet Snails (which I bought to aerate the sand) were out of control, there were so many.

I decided to introduce 5 assassin snails to deal with the problem. I have had assassin snails in the past, I think I had 8 in a 120 litre and I never had a problem with them reproducing, so thought it would be fine.

This was 3 months ago. Now the population of the other snails is almost gone, and the assassin snails are reproducing like crazy. I have seen a number of small assassin snails around the aquarium, and 2 pairs of assassin snails are frequently stuck to each other.

I am now worried that the assassin population will get out of control now! They are digging in the sand way more than the trumpets did which is useful, but I don't want hundreds. Based on things I have read, I thought that it took ages for the eggs to hatch and the snails to grow (which is why their populations can never get out of control), but this doesn't seem to be the case.

Does anyone know if an assassin snail population can get out of control or how to prevent this? I do have 2 other aquariums I could move 1 or 2 into to stop them breeding, but I am concerned that they might go for the nerites in those aquariums. Can they eat nerites?

Title: Re: Assassin Snails reproducing too much
Post by: fcmf on September 17, 2021, 08:04:32 AM

I have read elsewhere of assassin snails attacking nerites eg a quick google of some USA-based forums.

Your best bet might be to sell / give away some excess assassins eg check out others' posts selling same at https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Assassin-Snails/66788/bn_7023532435 and https://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/ (put 'assassin snails' in search box).

Title: Re: Assassin Snails reproducing too much
Post by: Vanadia on September 17, 2021, 04:49:52 PM

Thanks!

I won't put them in with the nerites then! Good to know that I can sell them if I end up with too many.

Title: Re: Assassin Snails reproducing too much
Post by: adiv on February 21, 2023, 10:53:40 PM

egg-sniffing fish, male fighters are good and i use one to eat my cherry shrimp fry but eggs are the perfect size for their mouths. i have the oposite problem, i want lots of assassins but have only seen 2 babies even though i have had 15 adults in the tank for 6 months and my problem is too many cherry shrimp (over 200) so if you move down to cornwall we could do a swap :cheers: