libertybelle
Aquarium Advice Addict
So I thought I’d post something I’ve seen in the last few weeks which is just more data on a semi-controversial issue but may be useful to someone down the line.
I was curious whether assassin snails would eat mini ramshorns. They were gone from my main tank though because glo tetras/ barbs (not sure which) DO eat mini ramshorns. They eliminated every single one practically overnight when I adddd them to the tank and even without other snail prey a single assassin snail was unable to harm a large nerite (~nickel size) in the tank with it for weeks. (Note: I have read reports of assassin snails ganging up on older snails so remember this was just one single assassin snail (maybe dime size.)
I still had mini ramshorns in the shrimp tank so on to experiment part 2 ... (Note; I personally like the mini ramshorns so this was more an experiment than a real attempt at eradication).
Conclusion: Grown assassin snails just don’t go for mini ramshorns. (Baby assassins probably would. Too small for the adults, I suspect.) They will however happily take out weak but still live and walking around shrimp; which is not particularly surprising but still interesting to see with your own eyes.
I’m still quite doubtful of their ability to take out healthy shrimp because they’re so dang quick but a shrimp who is not healthy or is about to molt etc; it was pretty fascinating to see A: how fast they can move in hunting mode and B: how tight they can grip an adult cherry. I eventually knocked him away and moved him back to his home tank where he’ll have to gaze longingly at the older nerites which are too big for him to take out alone while searching the substrate for leftover bloodworms.
Hope this helps someone down the line!
I was curious whether assassin snails would eat mini ramshorns. They were gone from my main tank though because glo tetras/ barbs (not sure which) DO eat mini ramshorns. They eliminated every single one practically overnight when I adddd them to the tank and even without other snail prey a single assassin snail was unable to harm a large nerite (~nickel size) in the tank with it for weeks. (Note: I have read reports of assassin snails ganging up on older snails so remember this was just one single assassin snail (maybe dime size.)
I still had mini ramshorns in the shrimp tank so on to experiment part 2 ... (Note; I personally like the mini ramshorns so this was more an experiment than a real attempt at eradication).
Conclusion: Grown assassin snails just don’t go for mini ramshorns. (Baby assassins probably would. Too small for the adults, I suspect.) They will however happily take out weak but still live and walking around shrimp; which is not particularly surprising but still interesting to see with your own eyes.
I’m still quite doubtful of their ability to take out healthy shrimp because they’re so dang quick but a shrimp who is not healthy or is about to molt etc; it was pretty fascinating to see A: how fast they can move in hunting mode and B: how tight they can grip an adult cherry. I eventually knocked him away and moved him back to his home tank where he’ll have to gaze longingly at the older nerites which are too big for him to take out alone while searching the substrate for leftover bloodworms.
Hope this helps someone down the line!