Cowries
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1534
Printed Date: February 17 2025 at 2:03pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Cowries
Posted By: rfoote
Subject: Cowries
Date Posted: December 22 2003 at 9:26am
| I have been checking out some info. on Cowries and and wondering what everybody thinks of them? From what I've found these 2 species Cypraea annulus and Cypraea moneta are herbivorous. Also, would they scratch an acrlic tank like a chiton might? Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: December 22 2003 at 9:36am
|
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. ------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Posted By: rfoote
Date Posted: December 22 2003 at 9:37am
| Jake - Do you know of anywhere local that has them? |
Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: December 22 2003 at 12:06pm
|
No, I think they will be somewhat hard to find (even online).
------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Posted By: peregrinus
Date Posted: December 22 2003 at 12:29pm
Ihad one once it ate my corals..  polyps and other wise.
Brian |
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: December 22 2003 at 1:07pm
| 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. |
Posted By: Marcus
Date Posted: December 22 2003 at 1:42pm
| I had a tiger cowry until I caught him making short work of my green star polyps. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 22 2003 at 7:02pm
|
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.  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Danny Lueck
Date Posted: December 22 2003 at 8:54pm
I have a tiger and all he does is knock over all my little frags  ------------- "Ask not what your REEF TANK can do for you!!" [email protected] |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: December 26 2003 at 10:21pm
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See earlier post just edited. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
Posted By: rfoote
Date Posted: January 19 2004 at 8:27am
| Any thoughts on this cowrie? Cypraea zebra |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 19 2004 at 10:11am
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 - 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!) ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: rfoote
Date Posted: January 19 2004 at 10:18am
| Thanks Mark! I'm sure your probably right because this cowrie comes out of Florida as well. I was thinking of it for that exact algae reason. |
Posted By: Meeshi_ma
Date Posted: February 19 2004 at 7:51pm
| 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. |
Posted By: bubblenbrain
Date Posted: February 20 2004 at 12:18am
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jsut a helping hand in the matter you can get two selections of cowrie from the following;http://www.marinedepotlive.com/inverts-shell--snai ls.html ------------- Tiny bubbles in my head :) what was the count again....1, 2, 8, 3 |