Assassin Snails MIA?!

[lilsd]

I have a 10gal planted tank with neo shrimp, chili rasboras and a few CPD hybrids. The tank was overrun with Ramshorn snails (came with the plants…), so I added two assassin snails a few months ago to control the population. They are AWESOME and did exactly what they were meant to do. But now they are MIA and we haven’t seen them in about 3 weeks…

It was surprising to see(and kind of cute) that they actually tended to hang out together, and would even burrow into the substrate next to each other most of the time to “sleep” or whatever it is they do… there was one corner of the tank that they liked to sleep in, almost always together. But lately, neither one has been sighted.

I’ve kept up on water changes and water testing, nothing has changed and none of the fish or shrimp have had any issues…. So we have a few theories but wondering if someone more experienced might have a potential explanation as to where they might have gone or if they’re ever going to be seen again….?

Top theories in the household so far are:

A) They’ve eloped on a romantic honeymoon
B) The ramshorns have organized and rebelled to overthrow their oppressors
C) Murder suicide?

Open to other possible theories but we do hope we see them again!

 

[connorlindeman]

Its possible that they have burrowed into the substrate. They tend to be more active at night.

 

[lilsd]

Its possible that they have burrowed into the substrate. They tend to be more active at night.

They are definitely more active at night, but we tend to be night owls too so would always see them. Lately though, nothing at all…

 

[MaloK]

Yes, and they will also get lazy when too well fed, Hide all the time and take it easy.

 

[gwand]

I also have 2 assassins in a 20 gallon tank. They also cuddle frequently partially buried in the substrate. Then they disappear for a week or two. But the pile of dead pest snail corpses tells me they are alive and well .

 

[lilsd]

They have definitely been extremely well fed. Maybe I’ll try to remove all the old empty snail shells from the tank and see if more keep showing up

 

[Oldspartan]

We have three Assassins in the 37G. The only time they are seen is when the semi weekly thorough gravel vac is done. They, at least here, are cellar dwellers.

 

[lilsd]

I’m happy to report that after months of absence, both of our “murder snails” (Burton and Timothy) have returned safe from their underground honeymoon. They seem more bonded than ever so I can only assume they had a great time wherever they went

 

[sharkweek178]

They're hiding. Waiting for you to get complacent. And then they strike!

 

[Magnum Man]

mine have been breeding, and the babies are always 1st spotted, at the bottom of the tank... and I've never seen a blob of eggs look any different, so, I was suspecting mine lay eggs in the substrate???

 

[TwoTankAmin]

They go into the substrate, I started with about 15 many years ago. To date I have sold 100s. The babies go into the substrate to avoid predation and to grow some before they tend to be in the open. When I need to collect them I use a telescoping back scratcher like a rake to get them out of the sand. I invariable have to check the buccket after I vacuum tanks with them as the babies go up the siphon,

For years I was breeding plecos and., in the grow tanks, feeding is heavy. This caused massive pond snail outbreaks and assassins were the answer. I almost always bring about 26 divided into two bags *a baker's dozen) to put into the auction my club has at the end of every monthly meeting.

They are massed on top of a Hikari Algae Wafer. You can see two wafers at the boom of the far pile.

 

[lilsd]

They go into the substrate, I started with about 15 many years ago. To date I have sold 100s. The babies go into the substrate to avoid predation and to grow some before they tend to be in the open. When I need to collect them I use a telescoping back scratcher like a rake to get them out of the sand. I invariable have to check the buccket after I vacuum tanks with them as the babies go up the siphon,

For years I was breeding plecos and., in the grow tanks, feeding is heavy. This caused massive pond snail outbreaks and assassins were the answer. I almost always bring about 26 divided into two bags *a baker's dozen) to put into the auction my club has at the end of every monthly meeting.

They are massed on top of a Hikari Algae Wafer. You can see two wafers at the boom of the far pile.

Ooohhhhh noooo. That is not what I need. I was going to get 3 or 4 because the ramshorns in my tank were so out of control, but decided to play the long game and went with 2 because I figured they’d be statistically less likely to reproduce. Not trying to trade one snail infestation for another