Bumblebee Snails

Description

Bumblebee Snail

• Specific Name: Engina spp.
• Diet: Carnivore – scavenger of meaty detritus, leftover food, and sometimes vermetid and bristleworms
• Pest or Good Guy: ✅ Good Guy (with some debate)
• Size: 1–2 cm
• Breed in Captivity: No – does not reproduce in reef tanks
• Cautions: May prey on tiny invertebrates (e.g., mini brittle stars or small worms); not suitable for pods-only tanks

Description:

Bumblebee snails are tiny, bold-patterned scavengers with distinctive black and yellow stripes that add flair to your sandbed. While small in size, they’re predators at heart, often feeding on leftover meaty foods, detritus, and even small nuisance inverts like vermetid snails or bristleworms. Their appetite makes them a useful part of the clean-up crew, especially in tanks where pests are creeping in. However, they’re not interested in algae and can occasionally snack on microfauna you may want to keep. Best used in moderation as part of a varied CUC, Bumblebee snails are both functional and ornamental—like tiny reef warriors in racing stripes.