Assassin snails?

michael

michael

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Michael Shrom
Have any of you used assassin snails to get rid of unwanted snails in your plants?
 
I've heard of this before. But I wonder why someone would get rid of snails. They are a link for the balance of a tank.
 
I did search on the forum of the Dutch www.salamanders.nl and it has been done indeed. With Anentome helena. They do their work, but not fast (unless you put a lot in the tank).
 
They have been on my "to buy" list for my fish tank for about a year now, I just never seem to get around to ordering some. Neat looking animals. Even though I have plenty of snails for them to eat I am interested in keeping them for their own sake.
Chip
 
Do these snails also eat salamander and newt larve or eggs?
 
I tried them out a few years back during my anabantoid fish breeding days. They are very effective at knocking down snail populations, but then you get a nice "culture" of assassins in their place. The ones I had ignored eggs (fish/snail/axolotl) for the most part, but they will snag fry and larvae if given the chance in my experience.
 
My Pipa parva tank is overrun with snails. When things warm up a little I think I'll try the assassins in there. The snails have devistated the plants. If I get overrun with assassins I should have no trouble getting rid of them.
 
You could do the old trick of placing a leaf of roamain lettuce in there and just toss it in the trash the next day or so after the snails attach themselves to it. It should get their numbers down for you until then.
 
I have 3 Anentome helena in my T. marmoratus tank. They keep the quantity of other snails down, without breeding themselfs (coldwater). The Anentome aren't such big eaters that they take out all other snail, but untill now I still haven't got any plage of snails again. I'm quiet happy with them at this moment, but I don't know if they will stay away from salamander-eggs. The future will bring the answer...

Regards, Steven
 
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