Can anyone identify this critter?

kirbuno · May 12, 2018

Son brought this home from his work. Works at a coral shop. No one knows what this thing is. Snail?, Nudibranch? Any ideas? Should I put it in my reef tank display?

Tahoe61 · May 12, 2018

My first guess would be a Cowrie of some type, whether it's reef safe or not I have no idea.

An image of the underside would be of great assist.

mike werner · May 12, 2018

it's cool looking that's what it is.just hope ya don't wakeup with it biten your neck.

Flippers4pups · May 12, 2018

Kind of looks like a juvenile sea apple.

kirbuno · May 13, 2018

Here's the underside. The mouth part kinda reminds me of a nassarius snail the way it moves. Plus it has two antennas.

samnaz · May 13, 2018

It’s a cowrie snail. I think C monetta or C annulus. Common name, money or gold ringed cowrie.

Reef safe. I have one and it’s my favorite snail by far, they are awesome.

kirbuno · May 13, 2018

Cool thanks!
Tahoe61 said a probability too. Looked it up. Seems right. To bad I can't see the shell to confirm for me. I'm going to go ahead an start the acclimating process.

samnaz said:
It’s a cowrie snail. I think C monetta or C annulus. Common name, money or gold ringed cowrie.

Reef safe. I have one and it’s my favorite snail by far, they are awesome.

kirbuno · May 13, 2018

Today he's showing his shell. Sure is a pretty snail for sure!

3mm3 · May 13, 2018

Not a money cowrie. Strongly suggest keeping an eye on it.

Kamden Uelton · May 13, 2018

Money Cowrie, Reef Safe I have 2 that lay eggs regularly... However, the larvae start out as plankton and don't survive.

Bongo Shrimp · May 13, 2018

3mm3 said:
Not a money cowrie. Strongly suggest keeping an eye on it.

Why do you think it isn't a money cowrie? All of the characteristics seem to fit the species.

kirbuno · May 13, 2018

After looking them up I don't think it's a money Cowrie either. However it is not the tiger Cowrie which is known to be aggressive toward other soft bodied creatures. The money Cowrie has a gold ring as you look down on it. Mine has orangish beige not well defined bands going across it. I'm watching it and so far it seems fine. It went straight over some small zoa's I have that are sort of blue tubs looking, and when he left they were closed but soon reopened. So far so good.