At a glance the quick version
Shell height about 18-32 mm (German Wikipedia gives 18-28 mm); aquarium specimens often stay smaller. LiveAquaria lists a maximum of 3 inches, well above the other sources.
Looks how to spot one
Tall, cone-shaped spiral shell with an operculum
A pointed, tightly coiled shell striped like a bumblebee in yellow and dark brown bands. The snail has a long proboscis it can stretch well forward, and a lid (operculum) to close the shell opening.12
Personality what they are like
A calm, slow-moving snail that leaves fish and shrimp alone. It often rests half-buried in the sand and becomes lively as soon as food is around, hunting other snails and scavenging leftovers.13
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Spends a good part of the day buried in soft substrate and is more active when food appears; a sandy or fine gravel bottom suits its digging habit.13
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Rated a moderate-care snail. Keep water clean and stable within its preferred range; because it eats other snails, do not house it with snails you want to keep.3
Home where they are happiest
Freshwater aquarium with sand or fine substrate. LiveAquaria suggests 20-23 C (68-74 F), pH 6.5-7.5, carbonate hardness 2-15 dKH, a tank of 30 US gallons or more, and around 5 snails per 15 gallons for snail control.31
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A carnivore and scavenger: eats other small snails, snail eggs, worms and carrion, and will also take sinking meaty foods and leftovers.1234
Company who they like around
Can be kept alone or in small groups. Sexes are separate, so a group is needed for breeding; females lay single eggs in small square capsules on hard surfaces, so numbers grow slowly.124
The story where it all began
Described by von dem Busch in 1847 from Southeast Asian fresh waters. It entered the ornamental aquarium trade as a natural way to keep fast-breeding pest snails, such as Malaysian trumpet snails, in check, and is now a common sight in planted tanks.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Each egg capsule is a tiny square only about 1-1.5 mm across, and holds a single yellow egg.1
- 2
Its yellow and brown stripes have earned it the nickname bumblebee snail.1
- 3
Working together, a few assassin snails can overpower snails much larger than themselves.4
- 4
Males and females look exactly alike from the outside.1
- 5
Juveniles hatch after about 2-6 weeks, depending on water temperature.2
Recognised by the official bits
- Taxonomy (von dem Busch)
- First described by von dem Busch in 1847; also listed in the genus Clea in some sources.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Assassin Snail. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amountsevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeSmall, gentle water changesevery week
- Water testevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Anentome helena - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, taxonomy, size, colours, diet, reproduction, behaviour
- Raubturmdeckelschnecke - Wikipedia (German) de.wikipedia.orgused for shell size, colours, diet, hatching time
- Assassin Snail - LiveAquaria liveaquaria.comused for water parameters, tank size, temperament, care level
- Freshwater aquarium snails - Aquarium Co-Op aquariumcoop.comused for diet, group hunting, breeding pace
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.