nanoreef16g
Active member
Anyone know where I can get my hands on some?
money/ring cowries
- Thread starter nanoreef16g
- Start date
kaptken
New member
well, I guess you have googled already. only one or two places in the UK pop up that sell them by that name. or Cypraea Moneta. it's an indo-pacific snail, cowrie.
http://www.ultimateaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/Cleaning_Crew.html
I wonder if they ship to the USA?
http://www.ultimateaquatics.co.uk/acatalog/Cleaning_Crew.html
I wonder if they ship to the USA?
nanoreef16g
Active member
Yeah I checked and was hoping there was someone who had come across them in their travels. I'm going to see if they will ship to the US. Maybe if they do I'll advertise here for some partners in shipment crime!
nanoreef16g
Active member
Good idea. I'll try that now.
kaptken
New member
or have you considered it's nearest kin, the cypraea annulus, ring cowrie, or as called here, a Tolkein Cowrie, for your Nano Hobbit?
http://www.reefermadness.us/RMD-Cypraea-annulus.htm
http://www.reefermadness.us/RMD-Cypraea-annulus.htm
Gordonious
Active member
Wow that one looks sweet Ken. Nano where did you find out about that species of cowrie and what made you decide to look for it? Just curious. I've always liked cowries.
Jon
Jon
kaptken
New member
They must be very common in the wild. because about 99% of the google hits come back for their dried sea shells from shell shops and ebay. and once used by islanders as money.
that first UK site, references shimek writing about them. small, less than an inch long, hungry herbavores. which might make them nice for frag tanks. they won't be knocking everything over like the big ones do.
that first UK site, references shimek writing about them. small, less than an inch long, hungry herbavores. which might make them nice for frag tanks. they won't be knocking everything over like the big ones do.
nanoreef16g
Active member
That's exactly it, I read about them in a couple of books and most in that species top out at an inch making them perfect for frag tanks and nanos. They also eat filamentous algae and some even eat bubble algae. I trust them more than large snails or emeralds. Plus my %*%((*&#%Q% sea hare has yet to touch the little bit of hair algae I have.
a1amap
New member
Maybe a dumb question..
If you only have a "little bit of hair algae" and have a sea hare, what will the cowrie eat after thats gone? Between the two they would keep a nano take clean for sure. I assume you will have to supplement the hair algae or else he would starve.
I had a little hair algae I introduced on a frag. It started to spread, untill adding a Yellow tang. I now hang nori sheets because the tang has eatten all the algae.
Al
nanoreef16g
Active member
I might have to supplement yes but again I have 3 tanks set up plus two more in the works so I think there would not be a scarcity of food. Plus if you read about the cowries, one thing I like is they are fond of macros, even Grape Caulerpa. No shortage of food there.
