Tiger Cowrie
Alternative Name(s):
Scientific Name(s): Cypraea tigris
Category: Marine Invertebrate
Difficulty:
Maximum Size: 15cms
Minimum Tank Volume: 350 litres
Minimum Tank Size: n/a
Water Temperature Range: 22-26°C
General Information: Beautiful egg shaped sea snail with a spotted glossy shell. The Cowrie extends a fleshy mantle around the shell to protect and groom it. This mantle retracts when the cowrie feels protection is not needed.
Tank Requirements: SALINITY SG: 1.023-1.026 Any stable marine tank with invertebrate friendly fish and enough space and algae to support them. They like to hide during the day so multiple suitable caves are preferred.
Diet Requirements: Mainly algae but also various zooplankton and will enjoy the occasional meaty scrap such as mussel or cockle. As they grow the diet becomes more meat orientated.
Compatibility: Reef compatible with caution. They will eat anemone, starfish and urchins.
Recommendations: BIG tank, lots of grazing and don't let them go hungry. Like many invertebrates they need a mature tank and good water quality. They're not tolerant of nitrate or copper.
Common Problems: As they grow they can get a taste for soft corals and sponges. They can also bulldoze clumsily around the tank causing rockslides.
Similar Species: There are many species of Cowrie which share certain traits with the Tiger.
Sexing:
Breeding: In the wild the female protects the fertilized eggs until they eventually hatch into larvae. Captive breeding attempts have been unsuccessful.
Author(s): EagleC, Fishlady | Photo: EagleC | Views: 13558
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