Bumble Bee Snail

Engina mendicaria

Origin	Indo-Pacific reefs
Maximum Length	0.5–0.75 inch
Minimum Tank Size	10 gallons
Reef Compatibility	Yes — reef safe cleanup crew

Behavior

The Bumble Bee Snail is a tiny, attractive scavenger named for its black-and-yellow banded shell. It burrows and roams through the sand bed and rockwork hunting for detritus, leftover food, and small worms. It is especially useful for eating unwanted bristle worms and cleaning up the substrate in tight spaces other cleaners cannot reach. Peaceful, hardy, and interesting to watch, it is a popular addition to nano and reef cleanup crews.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore/detritivore. Feeds on detritus, leftover meaty food, and small worms (including nuisance bristle worms). In tanks with little detritus, supplement with small bits of meaty food. Does not eat algae, so pair with algae-grazing snails for full coverage.

Cautions

Carnivorous — in a very clean tank it may prey on beneficial worms or, rarely, other tiny snails when food is scarce. Small and safe with fish and corals. Sensitive to copper; drip acclimate. Provide a sand bed for burrowing. Does not control algae, so it complements rather than replaces grazing snails.