Engina mendicaria

Acclimation: slow. It is sensitive to the slightest change in water parameters (LiveAquaria) and to salinity changes (Quality Marine).

Setup: hiding places, live rock and a deep sand bed where it can forage undisturbed. Its small size lets it get into the tightest crevices.

Tankmates, the key point: the two big sellers disagree. LiveAquaria calls it reef compatible; Quality Marine says it is peaceful but "not reef safe". The reason: when food runs short it may eat other snails and polychaetes, useful or not (bristleworms included). Avoid it with valuable snails or small snails in a tank with few leftovers.

Sensitivities: copper, high nitrate, salinity changes.

Good health: active at night, it searches sand and rock; in an established tank it usually finds enough to eat on its own.

Carnivore and scavenger: it cleans up detritus, meaty food leftovers and decaying organisms, and eats worms living in the sand. Like most Buccinidae in the broad sense, it is a carnivore (SeaLifeBase).

In an established tank it often needs no supplement. Otherwise, give small pieces of mysis or brine shrimp, frozen meaty food, or flakes and pellets for carnivores (LiveAquaria, Quality Marine). A hungry bumble bee is the one that attacks other snails.