Tiger Cowry Snail

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 4"
• Diet: Carnivore   • Aquarium Level: Substrate & Rocks   • Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
 • Reef Compatible: Yes, with caution   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
• Supplements: None   • Coloration: White, Grey, Black, Brown
• Origin: Indo-Pacific • Family: Cypraeidae   • Species: Snails

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Tiger Cowry Snails are found in Indo-Pacific waters, and as far east as Hawaii. They have a very interesting shell that varies in coloration based on region of collection, but is normally a glossy white and brown mottled coloration. Tiger Cowrys mantle will generally completely cover the shell unless it feels threatened.

The fleshy mantle has a pattern of lines similar to that of a fingerprint and many short papillae found over its surface. This is a nocturnal species that will generally find a cave, crack or crevice to hide in during daylight hours and will feed at night. Unlike many other nocturnal species that tend to adjust to aquarium lighting and will come out when the lights are on, the Tiger Cowry is unlikely to be seen except when the lights are off.

Moonlight LEDs available on many lighting systems commonly available on the market are excellent for this species as they allow for its viewing while still providing it with low lighting.

Tiger Cowry Snails should be provided with plenty of live rock in order to provide places for them to hide during the day and plenty of area to forage for meaty food scraps. While this species of snail is suitable for reef aquariums when small, it will become destructive with age as it will feed on some anemones, sponges and soft corals.

Tiger Cowry Snails make excellent additions to community fish aquariums that have plenty of live rock (FOWLR) as they will eat any meaty food scraps on the live rock or substrate. As with most all marine invertebrate species, the Tiger Cowry is sensitive to medium to high nitrate levels and will not tolerate copper-based medications.

The Tiger Cowry snails diet varies depending on its age, with young specimens able to forage for food and adult specimens requiring supplemental feeding. Small Tiger Cowry Snails will forage for algae and meaty food scraps on live rock and the substrate.

Larger specimens will require supplemental feedings of meaty foods such as chopped fish or mussel. Adult Tiger Cowry Snails will also feed on some sponges, anemones and soft corals and thus are not suitable for all reef aquarium environments.