Assassin Snail (Clea helena)

Control runaway snail populations with hired assassins! The Assassin Snail, or Snail Eating Snail, is a small, easy-to-keep freshwater invert completely harmless toward fish and shrimps, but quite effective in reducing nuisance snail explosions. It is also extraordinarily eye-catching in planted aquariums, featuring a bright yellow with chocolate brown striped shell.

In the wild, you'll find the Assassin Snail living in clean, fast-flowing streams with sandy or muddy substrates, though they are also tolerant of a wide range of water conditions, including ponds and ditches, making them a hardy addition to the home aquarium. Opportunistic carnivores, the Assassin Snail feeds on both live prey and scavenged detritus. They stay partially hidden under the sediment, and if a snail its size or smaller slides past, they will give chase and devour it. Otherwise, Clea helena is a peaceful community tank resident. Fish are at no risk at all once mobile, and livebearer fry are ignored.

To address an existing population explosion of Malayan live-bearing snails or alike, consider stocking quite a few Assassin Snails, ideally 5 snails for every 15 gallons in your system.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1/4" to 1-1/4"

Care details

• Temperature: 68 - 74° F
• dKH: 2 - 15
• Color: Black and Orange
• Family: Pachychilidae
• Diet: Omnivore