Assassin Snail – Clea helena

The Assassin Snail is a fascinating and practical freshwater snail known for its unique predatory behavior. Unlike most snails, this species actively hunts and feeds on pest snails, making it a popular choice for aquarists looking to control unwanted snail populations in their tanks.

Description:

Common Name: Assassin Snail

Scientific Name: Clea helena

Family: Nassariidae

Size: 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm)

Temperament: Peaceful toward fish but predatory toward other snails.

Difficulty: Easy

Native Region:

Assassin Snails are native to freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where they inhabit slow-moving rivers and lakes with sandy or muddy substrates.

Aquarium Setup:

Tank Size: Minimum of 5 gallons

Temperature: 72-82F (22-28C)

pH: 6.5-7.5

Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water

Substrate: Fine sand or smooth gravel to allow for natural burrowing behavior.

Additional Tips:

Pest Control: Assassin Snails help control populations of nuisance snails such as bladder snails and ramshorn snails by actively hunting and consuming them.

Compatibility: Safe for community tanks with peaceful fish but should not be housed with other small snails unless controlling their numbers is the goal.

Diet: In addition to eating live snails, they will accept sinking pellets, frozen foods, and protein-based supplements when natural prey is scarce.