Money Cowrie

Scoobers

New member
I have done some searching and was unable to really find any info on money cowries. We purchased one when were having a small battle with hair algae and he devoured it. I am just curious to find some more info on them. He is doing great and continues to eat off the rocks and I mean he cleans them almost to the point they are white again lol. Anyway if anyone knows anything about them I would appreciate it.

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What does yours look like w/ the mantle retracted? I have several ring cowries that I have had in different tanks for years now, although my success has been somewhat limited.
First, they aren't often available at the LFS around here. Second, when they can be found, I would estimate that greater than half are dead before I can purchase any. Then, for every four or so I have purchased, I would say that I have had one survive. Generally, if they survive the first week they are good for quite awhile, although I did have two that passed after nine or so months (I believe after "accidents" -- getting knocked and pinned into inescapable places.)
That said, the first one I ever bought is going on three years in my tank, while the last one that I bought has been in another tank for a year now. I find them to be beautiful and interesting animals. I own mine as additions to the tank itself more than anything (aka clean up crew.) I hope yours continues to do well for you.
 
Lots of times, the "Money Cowries" that people have are actually Cypraea (Monetaria) annulus, as Elysia notes. However, Scoobers has an honest-to-goodness Cypraea (Monetaria) moneta. They sometimes show a ring similar to C. annulus, but they aren't as oval in shape, and are often yellowish. The stripes on the mantle easily separate C. moneta from C. annulus:

http://www.gastropods.com/6/Shell_76.shtml

They are generalist feeders, and can live in a huge variety of habitats. That should make them well-suited for aquarists, except for the possibility that the generalized feeding may eventually include something you don't want them to eat. I think they're great, and do a lot more good than damage.

Cheers,




Don
 
Thanks a lot guys!! I really enjoy him and he is a beautiful animal. Its not to often that you see things that are black and white in the aquarium trade except some damsels. I hope he does well and we have him for quite some time.
 
just keep an eye on it. i had a tiger cowrie (at least thats what the lfs called it) and noticed one day one of my acans was losing flesh then lo and behold i find the cowrie one night munching on it.
 
An actual money cowrie was one of the cowries that I had for approx. nine months before it passed away. I considered it my "necklace" cowrie, as I was familiar w/ the animal through its use in jewlery making. I've seen the actual money cowries for sale even less frequently than the ring cowries. The ring's mantles are a bit more drab -- they include a good amount of brown coloration. I really like mine and have had no problem with them.
 
I bought my cowries under the name "money". They are nocturnal and I have not noticed that they eat alot of algae or do anything in particular really.
 
My money "ringed" cowrie mostly stays on the rocks and glass and munches on algae. I have not seen it eat any of the hair algae infesting my tank, but it seems to be getting along alright after purchasing it a month ago.
 
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