Q's about snails...

[Muske]

Before I google them I would like to hear some info. on them.

Thinking about putting some Assassin or Killer snails in a 20 gal. tank.
They are Anetome helena, about the size of a pond snail right now.

Will they harm plants
Are the good algea eaters on the glass
Can the be housed w/a tiny (1-1.5" carapass) painted turtle
I have a broken heater that is set at 74 degrees, will it work or bump the temp.
Turtle will/can be moved later.

Thanks Lupin in advance.

 

[msjinkzd]

Will they harm plants- No, though they may use firmer plants like anubias to lay their eggs on.
Are the good algea eaters on the glass-Not in the slightest, they are carnivores. They will not touch any algae.
Can the be housed w/a tiny (1-1.5" carapass) painted turtle-Not sure, i had my assassins take down a 2" apple snail.
I have a broken heater that is set at 74 degrees, will it work or bump the temp.
Turtle will/can be moved later.That temp should be ok.

Answers above

 

[Muske]

Thanks,

After I read my post about algae and thought more about their common name, I feel like a real dipstick.

How big can they get? Golf ball, baseball, softball, bigger?

 

[msjinkzd]

They get hardly over an inch. They are shaped conical, like MTS. They are a small snail.

 

[zenyfish]

Can the be housed w/a tiny (1-1.5" carapass) painted turtle
I have a broken heater that is set at 74 degrees, will it work or bump the temp.

I think the turtle may eat some snails.

I'd throw out the heater, rather than risk it.

 

[Lupin]

How big can they get? Golf ball, baseball, softball, bigger?

Rachel answered the previous ones for you. She has more experience on assassins than I do. As for the above question, you're referring to the apple snails.

Pomacea diffusa-approximately golfball size
Pomacea canaliculata-baseball
Pomacea insularum and Pomacea haustrum-softball

 

[Jag1980]

Do they bite?

 

[Lupin]

Do they bite?

Which snails? If assassins, no. As for the apple snails, it's just rasping although Donya of Applesnail.net recorded her Pomacea insularum which grow to a diameter of 4 inches left bite marks on her hand which bled slightly. P. insularum are the largest recorded to be found in the trade but they're slightly more uncommon than the P. canaliculata.

 

[Muske]

Thanks....

Water temps.?

 

[Lupin]

I keep my assassins in temperature 76-78 degrees Fahrenheit. They've been chasing the MTS and pouch snails around.