Assassin Snail Poison?

[Jozle]

So my assassin snail that had disappeared for a few months finally appeared after I added my zebra nerites to my 6g nano. Seeing him as a threat, I removed him. As soon as I had a hold on him, he ejected a cloud of milky fluids. I moved him a little more and as he recluse deeper within his shell, he excreted more.



I had thought he died but I guess I was wrong. That would explain why a majority of my young Blue Mysteries died.

Assassins are more like a conch and many of them contain a barb that has poison. So, I was wondering if there is anything to fear at this point or has anyone noticed this. Just to be safe, I'll be doing a water change.

[allysangels]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-191531.html

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=143950

[mnemenoi]

Certainly a valid point and would be interested to see, thanks for the links !!!!

[mistahoo]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums.../t-191531.html
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=143950

They won't each other, but will eat people? Hmm... interesting

[Jozle]

Am I going to die?

[allysangels]

lets hope not... i have a bunch of these guys! it makes sense that they would have some type of venom, as they are related to whelks.

[mistahoo]

Am I going to die?

Better watch out! They'll start munching on you when you're sleeping!

[allysangels]

[Parzival]

That story about the researcher is bull****

[mistahoo]

That story about the researcher is bull****

Kinda thought so, but the idea of it is hilarious. Getting killed by a little snail that so many people keep in their aquariums?

[Parzival]

It made me ink

[Totenkampf]

i have never heard of the freshwater welks being poisonous and a quick look of the webs didnt show anything of value. i would be interested to see an actual scientific report on this. i am curious about the ink to. many animals will clear their stomachs if they are under attack, maybe it puked on you?

the researcher story seems like BS but the other linked article was really informative although i have to say that i HAVE seen assassins eating each other and i recently saw one eat a ramshorn several times its size. i have yet to see one successfully attack a nerite though.

[Parzival]

So, if in the process of planting my tank, I end up with unwanted snails...I can add an assassin and my nerites will be ok?

Hmmmmmm

[Totenkampf]

i have olive and horned nerites in with assassins since december with no losses. i added large zebra nerites a few months ago. i think it is very difficult for assassins to attack snails that are not on the substrate. thats where my large ramshorn was when he got it.

[allysangels]

I have kept assassins with nerites. the trick seems to be that they dont attack if the other snail is significantly larger than themselves. of the 2 links I posted, the first was meant to be funny, the second informative.