Vegetarian Assasin Snails?

[bobs802]

Hello all

I have what seem to be vegetarian assassin snails! so far since getting them from a lfs one has done nothing but lay 20+ eggs all over my wood and the other has just raced round the tank all day and night
i have watched them for long periods of time and seen pest snails crawl on the assasins backs but they still wont try to eat them

im wondering if they have been over fed at the lfs or have lost the natraul habbits?

facts of my tank are 72l fishless cycled for 30+ days,25c, 8 very small cherry barbs, good ammount of plants, the substrate is not sand but very fine black gravel

i am feeding the cherry barbs on flake and a little brine shrimp mix but very very small ammounts

the assassins have only been in for 3 days maybe is just they need more time to get used to there new home

cheers
bob

long time lurker 1st time poster

 

[saltynay]

They can be weaned off their predatory instincts if given a ready supply of artificial food like catfish pellets to the point where they can die even in a tank with pest snails. They don't eat often so give them time, congrats on the eggs btw.

 

[bobs802]

thanks, as soon as i introduced them the biggest one went straight on the wood and has done nothing but lay for the past few days !!
other one is nippy enough but seems to ignore pest snails but maybe i just havent seen them pick any off yet, there nice things to watch though and it looks like i will have loads in the future too

 

[bobs802]

my assasins are now eating, i had to "teach" them i put a couple of big ones next to them and them took them out now there wizzing about picking them off