Olive Snail

Oliva sp.

Identification	Smooth, glossy, cylindrical (olive-shaped) shell with a highly polished surface and fine markings. Burrows through sand, often leaving a telltale trail just below the surface.
Origin	Tropical and subtropical sandy seabeds; Atlantic and Indo-Pacific
Maximum Length	1–2 inches
Minimum Tank Size	30 gallons with a sand bed
Reef Compatibility	Yes — excellent sand-bed scavenger and sifter

Behavior

The Olive Snail is a fast-moving, sand-dwelling scavenger prized for keeping the substrate clean and turned over. It spends most of its time plowing just beneath the surface of the sand bed, leaving a shallow trail as it hunts for leftover food and detritus. When it senses a meal it can move surprisingly quickly. Its glossy, olive-shaped shell is attractive, and its constant sifting helps prevent detritus buildup and keeps the sand bed aerated. Largely nocturnal, though it will surface to scavenge whenever food is present.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore/scavenger. Feeds on leftover meaty foods, dead animals, and detritus buried in the sand. In a well-fed tank it finds plenty on its own; in a very clean system, drop a small piece of meaty food (shrimp, fish) onto the sand occasionally. It does not eat algae, so pair it with grazing snails for full cleanup coverage.

Cautions

A scavenger, not an algae grazer — it will not control algae, so combine it with grazing snails. Needs a sand bed to burrow and forage; not suited to bare-bottom tanks. As a carnivore it may, rarely, prey on very small or weak snails or clams when food is scarce. Sensitive to copper and poor water quality; drip acclimate. Provide a soft, fine sand bed for best results.