Mole Cowrie

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Tropical Indo-Pacific reefs. Found in lagoons and outer reef slopes, hiding under corals or inside dark crevices during the day.

Taxonomy: Family Cypraeidae, genus Cypraea (also classified as Talparia talpa). Glossy, smooth oval shell protected by an expandable mantle.

Social Behavior: Nocturnal and peaceful. Avoids light and spends daytime in hiding, coming out at night to graze on rock and glass surfaces.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Shell has dark brown and golden-tan bands on the top and solid glossy black margins on the base. Dark mantle covered in white speckles. No sexual dimorphism.

Tank Setup: An aquarium of at least 150 liters with plenty of mature live rock and natural algae growth. Provide dark caves for daytime shelter.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous scavenger. Primarily grazes on film algae and detritus, but mature specimens may also eat sponges and soft coral polyps.

Water Quality: Stable reef conditions. Keep specific gravity 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, and calcium levels high for proper shell maintenance.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Reef-safe with caution. Can be kept with peaceful fish. Avoid keeping with large hermit crabs or pufferfish that might crush its shell.

Aquarium Breeding: Not recorded in home aquariums. Eggs are deposited on hard surfaces but the larvae require planktonic feeding.

Risks and Diseases: High copper sensitivity. Starvation is a major risk in clean, sterile aquariums with low algae populations.