Bumble Bee Snails

The Bumble Bee Snail (Engina mendicaria) is a tiny but striking cleanup crew snail with bold yellow and black bands that look exactly like its namesake bee. Unlike algae-grazing snails, Bumble Bees are scavengers and micro-predators that hunt down leftover meaty food, vermetid snails, and tiny worms hiding in the rockwork. Add them to a mature reef tank with sand bed and live rock for an effective spot-cleaner. Pair with our Red Banded Trochus and Astrea Snails for full algae and detritus coverage.

Care Guide

• Care level: Beginner to Intermediate. Hardy in stable reef parameters and works best in established tanks with a sand bed.
• Tank size: 10 gallons or larger. Plan 1 snail per 5 to 10 gallons.
• Water: 72 to 78 F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, specific gravity 1.023 to 1.025, dKH 8 to 12.
• Acclimation: Slow drip acclimate over 60 to 90 minutes. Snails are very sensitive to salinity swings.
• Diet: Carnivore and scavenger. Eats detritus, leftover meaty foods, small worms, and vermetid snails. Supplement with sinking pellets or thawed mysis if the tank is very clean.

Specifications

Compatibility

Great with: reef fish, corals, anemones, and other reef-safe inverts. Excellent pairing with algae grazers like Trochus, Astrea, and Turbo snails to round out a cleanup crew.

Caution with: very small ornamental worms (feather dusters can sometimes be picked off), and tiny snails or hatchlings of other species. Predatory pufferfish, triggers, and large wrasses will eat them.

Recommended Pairings

• Red Banded Trochus Snails for film and hair algae.
• Astrea Snails for additional algae grazing on rockwork.
• Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp for fish parasite picking and added detritus cleanup.
• Browse the full saltwater livestock collection for more reef-safe inverts.

FAQ

Will it eat my feather dusters?
Bumble Bee Snails primarily target tiny pest worms and detritus, but they can occasionally bother very small ornamental feather dusters. Large coco-worms and full-size feather dusters are typically safe.

Will it eat algae?
No. Bumble Bees are scavengers, not algae grazers. Pair them with Trochus, Astrea, or Turbo snails for full algae coverage.

How does it help with vermetid snails?
Bumble Bees actively hunt vermetid snails (the tube-building pests that grow on rock and coral skeletons). They won't eradicate a heavy infestation overnight, but they keep populations in check.

How many do I need?
Plan on 1 Bumble Bee per 5 to 10 gallons of established reef. A small group works better than singles because they spread out across the tank to spot-clean.