What Exactly Is My Assasin Snail Meant To Be Doing?

[Deleted member 107737]

Hi All,
 
I bought an assain snail yesterday from wharf aquatics and put it in my tank. ive seen it move  a couple of times from left to right and around a bit.
 
The snail keep diving under the sand.
 
I can see little pest snails but he just slides around them........!!!!!!
 
 
Whats the point of having them if he aint eating them??
 
Then when i see a little bit bigger one, he has decided to hibernate again

 
Thanks,,
 
Dave

 

[techen]

He's probs scared to death being stuck in a new tank.
 
Give him a good week or two to get used to the tank and he'll get to work with those snails.
 
He may also be already full of snails from before.

 

[Deleted member 107737]

thanks techen,
 
I was worried that he had died or something. I didnt expect him to bury himself in the sand but then after doing some research on google that is what they do most of the time

 

[Aviici]

Mine sit under the sand a fair bit when the lights are on, but it's their way of camouflaging themselves from the pest snails... once an unsuspecting snail slithers past the assassin, they'll give chase usually unless they're full up for the time being

 

[This Old Spouse]

Also keep in mind that the pest snail needs to be a good size before the assassin can eat him. He has to be able to fit his proboscis inside the shell.
 
Mine took a good week or so before I could tell they were eating the pest snails. Give him time.

 

[BLACK DDOG]

Only one !! get him/her some mates it must be lonely + you may get some baby's. I've got a good dozen + from my three.

 

[Aviici]

Are the assassin snails ever cannibalistic? I think I've got a few eggs scattered along some plants!

 

[This Old Spouse]

Not that I've ever seen. What else is in your tank?

 

[falcon1]

Mine sit under the sand a fair bit when the lights are on, but it's their way of camouflaging themselves from the pest snails... once an unsuspecting snail slithers past the assassin, they'll give chase usually

unless they're full up for the time being

Wow! A snail giving chase to another snail! That must be facinating!

And a simple solution to a snail problem= 1x Striped Raphael Catfish. The snails will be gone in no time.

 

[Gilli]

so I presume they would be no good for malaysian trumpet snails then if they need to get inside?

 

[Deleted member 107737]

Hi All,
 
Well ive got my 8 yougn platys in the tank which are about 7-8 weeks old now.
 
I dont want anymore fish as i love the fish ive got so to get rid of the tiny pest snails, i have got 3 assasin snails in the tank now.
 
1 has eaten a bit of left over fish flake, the other 2 have stuck themselves together near the heater!?!?!??!?
 
cheers,

 

[techen]

Snails have a habit of hitching a ride on the other. I see it as being lazy

 

[Shelster]

On YouTube they have some videos of assassin snails in action (thankfully sped up too) worth a watch!

 

[This Old Spouse]

so I presume they would be no good for malaysian trumpet snails then if they need to get inside?

Just their proboscis needs to get inside, not the whole snail.

 

[David J]

I've got 3 assassins on their way to me to deal with my snail problem. I'll let you know what they do when they first go in, just to compare the behaviour in a new tank.