Snail Helena is a killer, she is a predator. It is easy to recognize, as it is very different from others in their appearance. Snail shell slightly elongated, its color is an alternation of strips which have black and light brown color. On her head is a little elongated proboscis.
Snails that live in the aquarium, bring him a lot of good, especially snails, as Melania, they have the form of a pipe. In the aquarium, they do the same as rain worms in the ground, i.e. the soil is cultivated, moving on it. Thus they make the prevention of such problems as acidification of the soil in the aquarium. And they are very useful for algae and other plants that grow in the aquarium, they allow you to do the oxygen to the substrate.
In addition, the small inhabitants of the aquarium become scavengers, they remove food, who eat fish. However, not to overfeed, because when the snail feels very full, she started to lay eggs and eventually of the offspring get a lot of. And then there is a problem such as a biological reboot of the aquarium. He simply becomes cramped for its inhabitants.
To avoid this, it is necessary to regulate the flow of food in the tank, and this, in turn, will allow control over the reproduction of snails. But this may be enough, as these little creatures and feed on algae. You can try to control their numbers by removing them manually.
And also you can come other inhabitants of the aquarium, such as snails eaters, these include tetralone and morning glories. If not helped by it, you need to use special chemicals that destroy their offspring . But recently in pet stores there was such an animal as the snail Helena, she is a killer of others like themselves who live near it.
The origin and behavior of Helena
Helena lives in the aquarium with fresh water, it can be found in Southeast Asia. But its home is Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Basically she lives in small ponds, it can be different ditches or ponds. Likes places, where there is clay or sandy substrate.
In specialty stores, these predators-killers appeared about eight years ago. Since that time, these creatures became very popular and began to spread rapidly. These animals are very confirmed reputation of the killers, they may be a few months to clean a small aquarium, which has many shells. After settling in Helena aquarium of unwanted snails will remain one of the shells.
Helena-the killer likes to sit and wait while she digs in the ground and waiting for their prey. Watching these snails lures. When they caught up to the potential victim, the proboscis dig into her body and suck her. They really like young snail.
Has a snail Helena about two years, and if it is good to care even longer.
The contents
To keep Helena in the aquarium, its size should not be less than one hundred ten gallons. But if you are going to breed these wild animals and just want to have one or two specimens, the aquarium will fit smaller, so its size was about twenty liters. But do not forgetthat these snails are very susceptible to water quality, so that the content was correct, change it regularly and it is well to wash the aquarium.
Aquarium containing snails, should contain sand or soft ground, as Helena love to dig into it and sit there in wait for his victim
Feeding
Basically Helena-assassin eat other snails and worms, but can eat and other foods that fall into the aquarium. This number includes the remains of fish and invertebrates of small size. Additionally feed them is not necessary, only if with them there are other snails. Helena’s love live food, and that it was constantly available, you will have to further dilute the little snails in another tank.
For the feeding and Helena will fit:
- coil:
- Melania;
- pond;
- in rare cases, small ampulyarii.
If you’re not living organisms feeding Helen, they can come a simple fish food, but prefer they give protein food.
And happy to be there:
- brine shrimp, frozen;
- mussels;
- the flakes, which give the fish;
- different granules;
- feed containing algae;
- sinking feeds, which are designed for shrimp.
Reproduction snails Helena
Helena not hermaphrodites, among them, there are females and males. To establish their gender is almost impossible if you want to deal with their breeding, you’ll have to buy at least six individuals.
During mating, animals connect approximately twelve hours. After mating , the snail, the female lays eggs, they are single.The eggs can be seen throughout the aquarium on the glass and decorations that are in it. Caviar has a square shape and it has a brown dot, which is in the center.
Basically, the eggs hatch anywhere from three to eight weeks, it can affect the hardness of the water. After the fry hatch, hide in the ground and stay there until they reach maturity. They become Mature at the age of six months.
Compatibility
All snailsthat live in the same aquarium with Helena are in danger, as it eventually will destroy them, except those who have big sizes.
But Helen need to fear large types of cichlids, as they don’t mind to eat them. Shell snail killer will not save her, if it will constantly attack.
Helen can be kept in any aquarium where there is vegetation, because it is not uninteresting. But not settle them in aquariums for breeding fish because the snails can eat the eggs.
