Bumblebee Snail - Pusiostoma Mendicaria
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The Bumblebee Snail (Pusiostoma mendicaria) is a small and active marine snail, admired for its striking black and yellow banded shell and vermetid snail eating behavior. This peaceful invertebrate is an excellent addition to reef aquariums, helping control detritus and keeping substrate clean.
Common Name: Bumblebee Snail
Scientific Name: Pusiostoma mendicaria
Family: Buccinidae
Size: Up to 1 inch (2.5 cm)
Temperament: Peaceful
Difficulty: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Native Region: Found throughout the Indo-Pacific, commonly inhabiting sandy and rubble areas near coral reefs.
Tank Size: Minimum of 10 gallons
Temperature: 74–80°F (23–27°C)
pH: 8.0–8.4
Salinity: 1.023–1.025
Substrate: Fine sand or sand/rubble mix for natural burrowing and foraging.
• Vermetid Snail Predator: Actively hunts pest vermetid snails to keep population in check.
• Behavior: Peaceful and slow-moving; often burrows partially into sand.
• Diet: Scavenger—feeds on detritus, leftover food, and vermetid snails.
• Tankmates: Compatible with most reef fish and invertebrates; avoid predatory species that may harm the snail.