Snail ID - Dangit Forgot What I bought! What is this thing

I was busy chasing the four year old while purchasing a King Something Snail... forgot the name, stunning shell and exceptionally active already.

help me

;D

 

Cowrie.

 

It's a Cowrie of some sort.

 

That's it, Tiger Cowrie - I could just shower you with ...well firm handshakes but they would be good ones!

 

waaaait a minute the guy told me they eat algae and such... it says these things can each softies, urchins, mushrooms and sponges.

This thing doesn't seem anywhere near reef safe

 

Researching before purchasing

 

I typically never buy something that I have no prior knowledge of, but I was listening to a trusted source on this so I took a flyer.

 

keep an eye on it, iv been suggested to buy one several times as well, they look really cool but never took the leap....yet....

 

It's actually an Arabian Cowry, rather than a Tiger Cowry. They are some of the more generalist feeders of the cowries, but...they don't normally eat soft corals, and they aren't big sponge eaters, either. They have been known to scavenge dead animals, but they mainly eat micro- and macroalgae, and the little microorganisms that they can scrape off your rocks and glass. They're fairly large, so they can tend to bulldoze like the Tiger Cowries, but they are generally pretty well behaved, especially if they are getting plenty to eat. They've been kept upwards of 20 years in aquaria, even though the life expectancy on the reef isn't nearly that long.

Mauritia arabica arabica

Cheers,




Don

 

I've seen the shells my whole life at the beach tourist shops. Never knew what came inside them. Fun to own a living one.

Thanks! that is an awesome correction. I was just going on the info given to me when purchased. One of the more attractive things in my tank.