Cypraea (Monetaria) caputophidii Snakehead Cowry

Sugar_tan32 · 01/22/2017, 01:50 AM

Hey there, so need a bit of help because I have been looking up a lot about these snails and need some new answers or if anyone has experience with these guys. I was able to get my hands on 2 of these straight from Hawaii, about an inch long. Does anyone know if these are for sure reef safe and if they will eat my coral??
Thanks

matthew1089 · 04/20/2017, 05:06 PM

I adopted a few Hawaiian Cowrie from some live rock and once they found my Zoanthid Colony, they began munching on them. I was forced to start a nano reef tank which I transferred my zoas into to save them. Cowries are great to have in my opinion as long as its not a reef tank. Good Luck!

Ghost25 · 04/20/2017, 06:39 PM

I've never had a snakehead cowrie though I do have a gold ring cowrie. They are algae eaters, they shouldn't eat coral. Mathew: did you actually witness the cowrie eat the zoas? If the cowrie hitchhiked on your rock it's not too hard to imagine some pest did as well.

01/22/2017, 01:50 AM	#1
Sugar_tan32 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bay Area Posts: 21	Cypraea (Monetaria) caputophidii Snakehead Cowry Hey there, so need a bit of help because I have been looking up a lot about these snails and need some new answers or if anyone has experience with these guys. I was able to get my hands on 2 of these straight from Hawaii, about an inch long. Does anyone know if these are for sure reef safe and if they will eat my coral?? Thanks

04/20/2017, 05:06 PM	#2
matthew1089 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Makakilo, Hawaii Posts: 2	Cowrie Watch Out! I adopted a few Hawaiian Cowrie from some live rock and once they found my Zoanthid Colony, they began munching on them. I was forced to start a nano reef tank which I transferred my zoas into to save them. Cowries are great to have in my opinion as long as its not a reef tank. Good Luck!

04/20/2017, 06:39 PM	#3
Ghost25 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 143	I've never had a snakehead cowrie though I do have a gold ring cowrie. They are algae eaters, they shouldn't eat coral. Mathew: did you actually witness the cowrie eat the zoas? If the cowrie hitchhiked on your rock it's not too hard to imagine some pest did as well.