Are Assassins Cannibalistic?

[cguarino30]

I have a group of about 75 Assassin snails removing my pond snail problem in my 75 gallon community tank, and today I saw two of them pressed up against each other, and I didn't know if they were mating or if one was eating the other one. What does mating look like in these snails? Do they eat each other?

 

[petluvr]

I observed this same behavior yesterday and my thought was mating since both are still in the tank and happy.

 

[jackiomy]

They were probably mating. The female drags the male around with her for hours.

 

[msjinkzd]

When they mate, they usually stay together for some time. I woudl assume they are mating as well as I have never witnesses cannabalistic behavior.

 

[cguarino30]

Thanks, guys. It was the one dragging the other, so I assume it was mating. There aren't as many pond snails as there used to be in the tank, but I'm still feeding it plenty. Do the assassins need to eat snails, or can they eat fish food, and algae, and other stuff, too?

 

[Sounguru]

They were mating Assassins do not eat their own kind.

After snails are gone meaty or high protien foods will work, but best to thin your population way down to say 6 or so to make them easier to maintain.

 

[TheIrishJedi]

They were probably mating. The female drags the male around with her for hours.

Why can't that ever happen to me? :huh:

 

[msjinkzd]

mine eat bloodworms and catfish pellets.

 

[cguarino30]

Why can't that ever happen to me? :huh:

Maybe assassin snails are fans of Abe Lincoln, and are refusing to spawn for you out of spite.

 

[Lupin]

I've never witnessed cannibalistic behavior with assassin snails. They are mating per your observations.