The elusive bryopsis-eating chestnut cowrie

[ahiggins]

hey all!
After about 3 months of being Bryopsis free, I finally saw my chestnut cowrie
I added two as a last resort to rid my tank of bryopsis. It worked. I've been suggesting to everyone I know! Lol
Figured since I finally got a pic of him, I would post it. Some don't believe it's the reef safe kind, although nothing has gone missing for 4 months.
Enjoy

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have been scouring the LFS for them..Then my bryopsis crashed.
Where did you get yours?

 

[ahiggins]

My lfs gets them in once a year. I got two to clean up my tank but I only ever see one (or one at a time lol) I adore them, they helped my tank a lot lol

 

[ahiggins]

Attention!!!
I still have two!! They were both out tonight! I'm so proud

 

[Triggreef]

Nice i read about these a few weeks ago. I'll have to tuck this nugget if info away. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ahiggins]

of course!
I havent ever seen them for sale (other than when the LFS sold them to me) they said "you HAVE to have these" lol Im glad they did

 

[InvertEnvy]

I have one of these guys in my tank. I usually only see him early in the morning or late at night [emoji4]

 

[ahiggins]

In case anyone wanted a shell only pic for ID:

 

[Roy 9121]

What tempeture do you keep your tank at? The book says they don't do well at tempetures over 72.

 

[ahiggins]

I keep it at 78-sometimes it goes to 80. I've had these two cowries for about 6 months.
They also say that about margarita snails and I've had one for a year and some.

 

[Roy 9121]

That's what i keep my tank at 78-80. Maybe I'll look for a couple.

 

[ahiggins]

They're hard to find but keep at it. My lfs gets about 8 in once a year. And they're like $20 each. Best money I've ever spent.
They said "oh you NEED these guys" and at the time I was battling bryopsis to no avail.
Been bryopsis free ever since and they're great cleaners

 

[Vaughn17]

Looks like a ring cowrie. They are good little grazers, and IMO never bother coral; however, mine will not consume bryopsis.

 

[ahiggins]

It was sold as a chestnut but ring/money/chestnut... regardless, I love them and they have never (knock on wood) eaten any coral.

 

[Vaughn17]

It was sold as a chestnut but ring/money/chestnut... regardless, I love them and they have never (knock on wood) eaten any coral.

Oh, sorry...I know they're called money/ring cowries but not chestnut. You're lucky you got one that eats bryopsis. I was hoping that mine might, but no luck. Had to eradicate the bryopsis the hard way.

 

[ahiggins]

Technically yes, all three are different species (same genus) but there are very few reef safe ones that I just always lumped them together. Don't tell Renee (lion fish lair). You're correct in that I have a ring cowrie.

 

[Vaughn17]

Thx, ahiggins! The common names get confusing...wish more species names were used, but there are numerous (and I mean numerous) cowrie species so I can see why you lumped them together. A few years back, I was sold a slightly larger one as reef safe. It was a beautiful, friendly, gentle, coral eating machine, lol.

 

[ahiggins]

hahahahaha that sucks though lol