Over-Efficient Assassins

[Bugdozer]

In an attempt to keep my pest snail population in check, I introduced two assassin snails into my tank. I didn't think they would have much impact, based on the comments I've read on here about the rate at which they feed. However, I haven't seen a single pest snail for about ten days now. I'm beginning to think the assassins have actually killed every pest in the tank.
If this is indeed the case, then what is going to happen to the assassins? I'm concerned that they aren't going to get enough food by scavenging leftovers in the tank, as I have amano shrimp which are extremely efficient cleaners! Should I add a couple more pest snails just in case?
Interestingly, the assassins appeared to be mating (or at least squirming around each other) yesterday.

 

[brian1]

I need this answer also......

 

[fishprotector]

Mine used to like meaty snacks like bloodworm and also the occasional algae wafers.

 

[Inchworm]

Mine used to like meaty snacks like bloodworm and also the occasional algae wafers.

I agree. After my assassins polished off the pest snails, the set about eating the blackworms that escaped the corys and made their home in the gravel at the bottom of the tank. When they were gone they seem to be eating bits of dry food and Hikari sinking wafers.

 

[Bugdozer]

Mine used to like meaty snacks like bloodworm and also the occasional algae wafers.

I agree. After my assassins polished off the pest snails, the set about eating the blackworms that escaped the corys and made their home in the gravel at the bottom of the tank. When they were gone they seem to be eating bits of dry food and Hikari sinking wafers.

Yes, the problem though is that the other tank inhabitants are extremely efficient at grabbing everything that goes in there. Any particle of food that makes it past the tetras and the gourami and manages to reach the tank floor is swept up by the shrimps. The only way to ensure there are leftovers for the snails would be to drastically overfeed, which as you can imagine, I'm hesitant to do.

 

[bodge99]

Hello,

About 2 years ago I added some new plants to a 175 litre tank. The next day I realised that I'd introduced snails... anyway, the next week I added 6 assassin snails. They cleared up the snail problem in a few days. At the last count, there are over 60 assassins in this tank. All are doing well on the food that the mollies miss.. and these mollies don't miss much!

 

[Bugdozer]

OK well if your tank can support that many assassin snails without any special feeding, I guess mine will be all right then! I just wasn't expecting them to kill every snail.