Money Cowrie
Open Mon–Sat 10am–6pm · Sun 1pm–6pm. Usually ready the same day.
- Kept in our system until you collect
Overview
The Money Cowrie (Monetaria moneta) is a small, glossy-shelled snail with a genuinely interesting history — its shells were once used as currency across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, giving it its name. Beyond the history lesson, it's also a hardworking herbivore for the reef tank.
Role in the tank
Money Cowries are effective algae grazers, working through hair algae, film algae and diatoms on rock, sand and glass. Their smooth, domed shell also makes them somewhat less appealing to hermit crabs than other snail species, giving them a bit of extra staying power in a mixed clean-up crew.
Care
Drip acclimate slowly, as with any invertebrate, and introduce to an established reef with plenty of live rock and sand for grazing. Keep an eye on them periodically, since this species can have difficulty righting itself if knocked or flipped upside down.
Compatibility
Peaceful and completely reef-safe, posing no risk to corals or other invertebrates.
- Avoid housing with aggressive fish, crabs, or other predators that may prey on it
- Compatible with virtually all reef-safe fish, corals and invertebrates
Care tips
- Check periodically that it hasn't been flipped upside down, since this species can struggle to right itself
- Provide plenty of live rock and algae growth to support its grazing needs
- Avoid copper-based medications, which are toxic to all invertebrates
- Offer spare shells to hermit crabs elsewhere in the tank to reduce the temptation to prey on live snails
How collection works
Order & pay online
Check out and pay securely. We set it aside and hold it ready for you.
We get it ready
It stays in our system until you come in — usually ready the same day.
Collect in store
Drop in to 280 North Road, Eastwood, and pick it up.
