Tiger Cowrie - Eat SPS?

[blenny90]

We bought 2 medium size , 1.5" - 2" tiger cowries to help control algae in our 210. Since then, we've got several SPS that seem to be eaten on and last night I saw one of the cowries that now appears to be damaged.

Is it possible that it's the cowries that are causing the damage? Or is this just coinsidence?

 

[venwu225]

post picture of the cowries please.

 

[blenny90]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7639515#post7639515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by venwu225
post picture of the cowries please.

Here are pictures of the 2. They are about 1.5" - 2" long. I've removed them from the tank.

 

[venwu225]

You have a arabian cowrie: they are great algae grazers, put them back into the tank. Look up the latin name in google and numerous sources specifically verifies that they are grazers of marine algae, and not corals.

http://www.gastropods.com/7/Shell_37.html

This is a tiger cowrie

http://www.gastropods.com/6/Shell_96.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1906&articleid=2193

 

[blenny90]

Thanks for the distinction. Once I was able to get them out of the tank, I took them back to the LFS where I bought them. Maybe it's just coinsidence, but one of our SPS that he was grazing next to last night, is now partially eaten and we have two more that have the same type of damage.

They have beautiful shells - but I don't want to risk our SPS. I guess if the damage continues, I'll know that it wasn't the cowries and I'll have to figure out who's at fault.

 

[Javeo]

I had one exactly the same that decimated my clove polyps and chewed on my first bta, which ended up moving and getting caught in the powerhead.