Cowries

Cypraea annulus is one of the better cowry choices, but I think all cowries are a little risky.  I would stay away from Cypraea moneta, although they do eat algae they are also know to eat sponge and some corals (mostly softs).

I have never had a problem with Cowries scratching acrylic tanks, but you never know.

No,

I think they will be somewhat hard to find (even online).

 

I got one at aquatica for about $5.  He calls them milk cowries.  I haven't seen it for a while though...  To my knowledge it hasn't eaten any corals or such.  I believe it was a Cypraea moneta from the pictures I've seen.  Have to go look for it and see if it comes out at night.

Cowries aren't all bad.

In a mature tank they live quite well. As already stated, they can take bites out of coral so if your tank is not at least two years old with tons of life including lots of sponge and coralline algae, don't get one.

I have a pic of the one that Adam gave me that he collected in Florida a couple years ago. It just appeared again the other day in my friends tank and I took some shots of it. It's about 3 inches long. As soon as I get the pic downloaded from my camera, I'll post it here.



Edited by Mark Peterson

See earlier post just edited.

I would bet $$ that it is exactly what I pictured above. The shell color and design has changed a little from when Adam brought it to me. He collected it himself in Florida.

Check out this page by clicking on the link below and scroll down to description #5 saying that it has a varied shell that gets no more than 70 MM (4-5 inches?) http://www.seashell-collector.com/articles/2003/fabien211103 /f.htm

Rfoote, I say to definitely try it because it could help graze your algae and if it does start eating a coral, like it did on my Green Nepthia (in a 75 gal.), it's evident way before the coral gets stressed because this one just took "rabbit pellet" sized bites about 2x/wk. It's been in the 180 for at least a year now and doesn't appear to have bothered even the Green Nepthia.

(rabbit pellets! I must be worried whether my daughter's "Bunny" has liquid water to drink and food to eat...Jennie, go check your rabbit!)

I got a little one at Aquatica the other day for $1.99, it's just been cruising around like a snail.  He's on the rocks now so I'll make sure that he stays away from my softies.