Anentome helena (Clea helena), also known as the Assassin snail, is not only an attractive presence in the aquarium, but also an effective means of getting rid of the uncontrolled multiplication of other snails, especially those of the planorbis and physa family. Native to Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia), where they are found in rivers and lakes with sandy or muddy substrate, these striped snails of 1.5-2.5 cm have recently arrived in our aquariums, where they enjoy the appreciation of aquarists.
Feeding Anentome Helena-Assassin snail
In nature, they have been observed to feed on both proteins from already dead creatures and live prey, such as worms or snails; in other words, these snails are both predators and scavengers.
In conditions of captivity, they will certainly eat a large number of unwanted snails, but they will not give in to other animal proteins, such as pellets for bottom fish, or frozen or granulated food that reaches the bottom. In other words, any food that will be within their range, will be accepted. The way to feed with live food, but also with dead shrimp, for example, is to suck the victim through the "trunk".
Features Anentome Helena - snail Assassin
Anentomas are snails that do not like bright light and prefer to spend most of the day in the sand, from where they reveal only the "trunk", or withdrawn to a discreet place. They have a conical, tipped shell, usually red or broken, yellow in color, with a brownish spiral and strongly striated. Its maximum length is 20 mm, although it is most often found at the size of 15-18 mm. The body of the snail is gray-green with spots and has a" proboscis " that, most of the time, helps it quickly find food.
They are very effective in maintaining or even eradicating the population of "strays" snails, generally attacking only specimens that are smaller than them, generally not interacting with larger snails, such as Pomacea or Tylomelania. However, if they get the chance, they will devour the offspring of the latter. It does not attack either shrimp or fish, although it is possible to eat their eggs. It prefers harsh waters, with a ph of 7-8 and a temperature of 22-27gr C.
Breeding Anentome Helena-Assassin snail
It is a relatively easy species to reproduce, as long as there is enough food, it will mate in the aquarium, although the number of offspring that will reach maturity will be relatively small. These snails are not hermafordite, so a group of individuals will be needed to ensure reproduction – this can be seen when several smaller specimens attach to a larger one, the female.
Helena Anentome eggs are laid individually, each in a semi-transparent shell, attached to solid surfaces such as stones or plastic objects in the aquarium. Until hatching, a fairly long period passes, and after that, the offspring will bury themselves in the substrate for several months and their growth will be just as difficult, taking up to six months, to reach the adult stage.
The number of juvenile snails, however, is quite small compared to the eggs laid, suggesting that several factors prevent most of them from hatching. Among them, cannibalism can be found, but adults ignore older juveniles, so it may not be an essential one. However, with enough food, the population will slowly but surely grow.
