The cowrie

[Moonfruit777]

I'd like to shine some light on this IMO very underrated snail. :)
Monetaria annulus/moneta to be exact.

At the moment there live around 15 corie snails in my 125g reef.

Here is why I never want to miss them in any of my reeftanks:

+ eat algae
+ won't touch any corals whatsoever
+ long lifespan
+ hermit crabs don't care about the shell (big + if you ask me)
+ provide coral food from regular breeding
+ look beautyful
+ stay as clean as on day 1 because they keep the shell clean


Arguably they are not as productive as other snails available to us reefers.

But these reasons are enough for me to add them to my current tank as well as any future tank.
If I simply compare the amount of other snails I added and HAD TO REPLACE on a regular basis because of various reasons e. g. hermits kill them, they flip on their back, etc
Some of the cowries are in my tank for 5+ years now! Don't think any of my turbos lived that long :/

Don't know if that is the case for every snail but every once in a while I find a cowrie in the SKIMMER CUP - yes in the skimmer cup... not clue how they keep getting in there but they end up in there and live on when I take them out after a few days to a week so they must be really resistant to nutrients.

Let me know what you think about the cowrie and wether you like or not like them :D

 

[Brew12]

I'd like to shine some light on this IMO very underrated snail. :)
Monetaria annulus/moneta to be exact.

At the moment there live around 15 corie snails in my 125g reef.

Here is why I never want to miss them in any of my reeftanks:

+ eat algae
+ won't touch any corals whatsoever
+ long lifespan
+ hermit crabs don't care about the shell (big + if you ask me)
+ provide coral food from regular breeding
+ look beautyful
+ stay as clean as on day 1 because they keep the shell clean


Arguably they are not as productive as other snails available to us reefers.

But these reasons are enough for me to add them to my current tank as well as any future tank.
If I simply compare the amount of other snails I added and HAD TO REPLACE on a regular basis because of various reasons e. g. hermits kill them, they flip on their back, etc
Some of the cowries are in my tank for 5+ years now! Don't think any of my turbos lived that long :/

Don't know if that is the case for every snail but every once in a while I find a cowrie in the SKIMMER CUP - yes in the skimmer cup... not clue how they keep getting in there but they end up in there and live on when I take them out after a few days to a week so they must be really resistant to nutrients.

Let me know what you think about the cowrie and wether you like or not like them :D

I'm not sure I have ever seen them offered before. I will keep my eyes out for them though!