Arabian Cowrie, reef safe?

[Moort82]

Hi i was bought an Arabian Cowrie Cypraea arabica, yesterday as a present. I'm not familiar with this species but know some cowrie are ok and some may eat soft corals and meaty things. I also know there may not be a straight line between the two with starving snails tasting anything out of desperation.
At the moment it is in my refugium until i can get a definate id and answer.

It was sold as a Tiger cowrie, but i think it's an a Arabian. If someone could confirm i'd be grateful.

Thanks Ad

 

[pagojoe]

Yes, it's definitely an Arabian Cowry. I consider them to be "generally" reef safe, and have personally never seen them eat anything objectionable, although some people swear they'll taste of soft corals. I know that some of these reports are cases where ovulids (which DO eat soft corals) are confused for cowries, and suspect that may be the case in many of the other reports. However, some people who have kept Cypraea arabica have reported that they ate their zoanthids or polyps of some sort, so I can't say it doesn't happen occasionally. I can say it doesn't happen very often, and as you mentioned, it's probably more likely when the cowries are starving.

Cheers,




Don

 

[Airwolf75]

Bout a year ago a friend of mine was having some bryopsis problems, I orderd some Snakehead Cowries for him and they sent 2 Arabic cowries instead.

So we did some research and found some obscure papers from Japananese scientists who described the gut contents of Arabic cowries as mostly micro and filamentous algae.

So we threw them in the reef a year ago and they are still there, sure did a number on the bryopsis. A few good cowries are like kryptonite to bryopsis hair algae.

 

[LeslieH]

A few good cowries are like kryptonite to bryopsis hair algae.

Just as long as you get the right ones!

 

[Moort82]

Thanks guys, there seems to be a real lack of info about these. The only place i have found selling them says they are fine but i wonder if most of the info gets lumped under just cowrie and isn't species specific.
They are also said to be quite a common species but there aren't any keepers reports that i can find, good or bad.

 

[jam583]

Old post.. I know ... but just got 2 of these. Any updates/thoughts from your (or anyones) experience?

 

[weamdog]

Old thread, but never really got answered. I have had one for about 10 weeks. It was fine at first, but once it gets a taste for something new it's all over with. Mine started out with my elegance coral, unfortunately by the time I realized what was going on it was too late. From there it went after my purple LTA which two crabs hosting it were not enough to fend off the attack. That left me one RBTA that was on the move and I was unable to get to in the rocks. Well, I fear that one has succumbed to the same fate because I don't see it or the cowrie right now. Once they get a bite of the anemone it's just a matter of a few days before it dies hopefully others can learn from my mistake, or better lack of knowledge with the species. Now the little money cowries are the way to go, I have about 6 in that tank for probably 6 months or so and they always mind their own business.