Cowries In A Reef Tank
- Thread starter jumpfrog
- Start date
jumpfrog
Active Member
Joe, thanks for the info and the bump.
I wonder if there are cowries which are reef safe. Obviously your leather eater wasn't. Glad to hear the leather is coming back.
The main reason I ask that I saw one in LFS this last weekend. A mostly black one. It was in the guys 375 gallon show tank. Absolutely gorgeous tank. Didn't think to ask them about it until I got home.
Ha anyone had a "safe" cowrie or does that even exist?
I wonder if there are cowries which are reef safe. Obviously your leather eater wasn't. Glad to hear the leather is coming back.
The main reason I ask that I saw one in LFS this last weekend. A mostly black one. It was in the guys 375 gallon show tank. Absolutely gorgeous tank. Didn't think to ask them about it until I got home.
Ha anyone had a "safe" cowrie or does that even exist?
javajoe
Member
If you can find the exact species of the cowry, you should be able to determine if ti is reef safe or not. Of course, you could just get it, and watch it-- it's not liek the move real fast-- if he takes to one of your soft corals, get rid of him. I was not able to discobver any reef safe cowries.... unfortunately, cowries are very popular among shell colectors, so it is hard to do searches, as most thigns you find relate to shell collecting and jewelry making.
jumpfrog
Active Member
Joe, that's the same result I had. Plenty on collecting shells, nothing really on the animal.
According to Marine Depot they say cowries are reef safe. But, we've heard that before so I trust real world experiences over sales sites anyday.
Marine Depot quote:
Also known as: Cowrie Tiger
Herbivore. The Cypraea tigris is generally peaceful toward other tankmates. Reef-safe. Many consider the Cypraea tigris a medium-maintenance specimen. Not venomous. Nocturnal feeder. Algae eater, sand sifter. Be careful with copper-based medication and extreme nitrate levels. If you use them, place about one, two snails per actual gallon of your system (half this for Nassarius). Use a mix of species. Keep water quality high (SG 1.023 - 1.025, pH 8.1 - 8.4, Temp. 72 - 78° F).
Almost sounds like a standard "snail" ad.
According to Marine Depot they say cowries are reef safe. But, we've heard that before so I trust real world experiences over sales sites anyday.
Marine Depot quote:
Also known as: Cowrie Tiger
Herbivore. The Cypraea tigris is generally peaceful toward other tankmates. Reef-safe. Many consider the Cypraea tigris a medium-maintenance specimen. Not venomous. Nocturnal feeder. Algae eater, sand sifter. Be careful with copper-based medication and extreme nitrate levels. If you use them, place about one, two snails per actual gallon of your system (half this for Nassarius). Use a mix of species. Keep water quality high (SG 1.023 - 1.025, pH 8.1 - 8.4, Temp. 72 - 78° F).
Almost sounds like a standard "snail" ad.
javajoe
Member
Found this....
Scroll down on this link.... (group of Cypraea tigris feeding on a soft coral)
i also found this quote... "The tiger cowry (Cypraea tigris) occurs throughout the Pacific, but reaches its largest sizes in the Hawaiian Islands (up to 6 inches/15 cm). It is a grazing herbivore, rasping algae from rocks and reef with its file-like radula. The tiger cowry's shell color is distinctive, though it doesn't resemble the animal for which it is named. The high, inflated shell may be white or golden brown with scattered dark brown or black spots and a golden mantle line that runs the length of the shell. The mantle tissue is light with irregular dark blotches and covered with simple, unbranched papillae. "
so who knows.
the photo to me doesn't really look like they are eating the corals, i suppose agian, that you could try it- keep an eye on em and get them out if they misbehave...
Scroll down on this link.... (group of Cypraea tigris feeding on a soft coral)
i also found this quote... "The tiger cowry (Cypraea tigris) occurs throughout the Pacific, but reaches its largest sizes in the Hawaiian Islands (up to 6 inches/15 cm). It is a grazing herbivore, rasping algae from rocks and reef with its file-like radula. The tiger cowry's shell color is distinctive, though it doesn't resemble the animal for which it is named. The high, inflated shell may be white or golden brown with scattered dark brown or black spots and a golden mantle line that runs the length of the shell. The mantle tissue is light with irregular dark blotches and covered with simple, unbranched papillae. "
so who knows.
the photo to me doesn't really look like they are eating the corals, i suppose agian, that you could try it- keep an eye on em and get them out if they misbehave...
jonthefb
Active Member
the only cowry i know that is 100 poercent reef safe is the money cowrey, Cypraea moneta. the most common one available in the trade, the tiger cowry, Cypraea tigris, has been known to eat algae, but can also become predatory of corals, fish and other molluscs.
good luck
jon
good luck
jon