Cowries?

[mike bracken]

I am looking to add some cowries to my system, for algae controll. I want some gold ringed cowries and another variety. My question is what othe cowry is an atractive herbivore? If possible please post pictures.

 

[anthias_949]

well, that depends on what kind of tank you are putting them into. the tiger cowrie does great but he'll eat any corals you have in there as well.

 

[mike bracken]

Other variety is now the money cowrie.

 

[NaH2O]

Here is an article for you: The Grazing Snails, Part III: Conchs, Ceriths, Cowries, and Columbellids

The Money Cowrie (C. moneta), the Ring Cowrie (C. annulus), and Snakehead Cowrie (C. caputserpentis) are good grazers. The Tiger Cowrie (C. tigris) is also a good herbivore, but because of its size (~4 inches) they may knock things over in the tank (i.e. unstable live rock & corals). Anthony Calfo states in "Reef Invertebrates" page 198

Sometimes precarious to keep in captivity and generally is not recommended. It feeds without much discretion upon algae, ocean meats (dead matter), and various desirable reef invertebrates like corals and bivalves. They are too large for most home reef aquariums, however well-behaved they might be, at about 4" (10 cm).

Hope you find this helpful!