Juvenile Cypraea mauritania?

[ptychoptera]

Collected in a shallow wave-washed area. Can anyone confirm this ID?

 

[pagojoe]

You nailed it. I tried unsuccessfully to raise a bulla-stage C. mauritiana, but there were too many predators in my tank to give it much of a chance at survival. I'll be interested to see if you can keep it through adulthood.

Cheers,



Don

 

[ptychoptera]

Thanks Don. Any suggestions on how to feed him/her?

 

[pagojoe]

Not really. As you know, they spend the days hiding in the cracks between and under lava rocks in the splash zone, and emerge at night to graze on the algae and microorganisms that grow on those rocks. They live in a high-energy environment, and may be found four or five feet above the water line when they are feeding. You might try bringing in small rocks that have algal growth on them, and just rotating them out with new ones every few days? You may have to create some turbulence in the area to attract the cowry.

Cheers,


Don