As an aquarium hobbyist who enjoys cultivating a thriving ecosystem, I’m always looking to add new and exciting creatures to my tank. Recently, I became intrigued by the idea of acquiring some assassin snails to help control the pest snail population exploding in my tank. However, I already have a happy community of cherry shrimp that I want to protect. This led me to investigate the pressing question – do assassin snails eat shrimp?
In this article, I’ll share my research to uncover the truth about the potential risks of housing assassin snails and shrimp together. You’ll learn whether these two creatures can coexist peacefully or if you need to keep them separated. Let’s dive in and unravel the mystery once and for all!
First a quick overview of these two popular freshwater tank inhabitants
Assassin Snails
- Scientifically known as Clea helena
- Native to Southeast Asia
- Grow up to 1.5 inches long
- Carnivorous and will eat other snails, worms, and carrion
- Nocturnal species that burrows into substrate
- Help control pest snail infestations
Cherry Shrimp
- Scientific name Neocaridina davidi
- Small freshwater dwarf shrimp
- Grows up to 1.5 inches long
- Peaceful community species
- Omnivorous and will eat algae and biofilm
- Bright red coloration with high grade variants
- Breed readily in planted tanks
Now that you’re familiar with both creatures, let’s analyze whether they can live together.
Do Assassin Snails Hunt and Eat Shrimp?
The critical factor determining if shrimp and assassin snails can cohabitate is the snails’ feeding behavior. In their native habitats, assassin snails primarily consume other snails using their tooth-like radula to drill through shells. They also eat worms, insect larvae, and decaying plant and animal matter.
But some aquarists have reported witnessing their assassin snails ambushing and attacking small shrimp There are a few hypotheses why assassin snails may prey on shrimp
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Lack of Preferred Food Source – If assassin snails don’t have enough snails or worms to eat, they may turn to shrimp for sustenance.
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Vulnerable Molting Shrimp – Snails seem most likely to go after shrimp while they are molting and have soft shells.
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Offspring and Babies – The tiniest baby shrimp may get eaten by assassin snails when their populations are dense.
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Overcrowding – In smaller tanks with high stocking levels, assassin snails encounter shrimp more frequently which can lead to predation.
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Nocturnal Feeding – It’s hard to monitor assassin snail’s nocturnal feeding habits when they may secretly attack shrimp at night.
So while assassin snails eating shrimp is not guaranteed, the possibility definitely exists under certain conditions. How can shrimp and snail keepers prevent problems?
Tips to Keep Shrimp Safe with Assassin Snails
If you want to keep shrimp and assassin snails together, here are some tips to reduce the chances of shrimp fatalities:
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Maintain a steady population of pest snails for assassins to eat rather than shrimp. Malaysian trumpet snails are a favorite prey.
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Feed assassin snails a high protein diet of bloodworms, brine shrimp, fish flakes to curb predation of shrimp.
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Provide ample hiding spots for shrimp using plants, rock caves, driftwood and a deep substrate.
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Introduce larger adult shrimp instead of tiny offspring that are vulnerable.
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Use a larger tank of 20+ gallons to dilute populations and prevent overcrowding.
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Limit assassin snail numbers to 3-5 per 5 gallons to prevent an explosion.
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Monitor for signs of shrimp distress like disappearing offspring or damaged shells.
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Employ alternative snail control methods like traps or chemical treatments if issues arise.
The Verdict: Limited Cohabitation Possible
After completing my research, I believe limited coexistence between assassin snails and shrimp is possible but requires careful planning and monitoring.
Assassin snails certainly can and will eat shrimp under the right circumstances. However, they generally prefer much easier snail prey if available. With a well fed assassin snail population in a large, planted tank, shrimp can safely keep their distance.
By following the tips outlined, cautious aquarists can strike a balance between assassin snail pest control and maintaining a thriving shrimp colony. Personally, I plan to slowly introduce a few assassin snails to my tank and continuously ensure they are not impacting my beloved cherry shrimp.
Do Assassin Snails Kill Shrimp? – Shrimp Keeping
Are assassin snails slow?
Assassin snails are too slow for that. They have only two speeds – dead slow and stop! If the assassin caught a shrimp I would guess it was ill, slow, genetically weak or simply too stupid and therefore must go anyway. I have never seen this happening in my own tank but I have never doubted it can happen.
Do assassin snails eat clams?
Assassin snails seem to do well with clams, both small and large varieties. Adult Amano shrimp and Ghost shrimp are generally considered safe with assassin snails, especially if there are plenty of pest snails for the assassins to eat. However, assassin snails will eat shrimplets, so keep that in mind if you’re hoping to breed shrimp.
Can assassin snails eat cherry shrimp?
Keeping assassin snails well-fed with small snails as their preferred food source is essential to ensure your shrimp tank remains harmonious. On the other hand, cherry shrimp and assassin snails can coexist peacefully in a correctly planted tank. The key is to make sure that the snails are too small to be a threat to the shrimp species.
What do assassin snails eat?
Feeding your assassin snails a diet of blood worms or other protein-rich foods can help curb their appetite for live prey. Additionally, providing hiding places, such as substrate or plants, for your shrimp can help them avoid becoming easy targets for the assassin snails.