Encyclopaedia
Common Egg Cowrie
Ovula ovum
Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific. It lives on coral reefs, closely associated with soft coral colonies (alcyonarians).
- Family
- Ovulidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific: widely distributed in tropical reefs associated with soft corals.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsExtra-Amazon South America
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
22 °C - 26 °C
8.1 - 8.4
Marine
Soft coral predator (Sarcophyton)
High
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific. It lives on coral reefs, closely associated with soft coral colonies (alcyonarians).
Taxonomy: Member of the family Ovulidae. Features a smooth, glossy white, egg-shaped shell growing to 10.0 cm. A black mantle covers it when active.
Social Behavior: Solitary and specialized. Crawls on soft corals, which are its primary food source.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The shell is pure white. The mantle is dark black speckled with gold spots. Visual sex differences are absent.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Tank Setup: Requires a spacious marine aquarium. It is not suitable for typical reef tanks with prized soft corals since it grazes on them.
Diet and Feeding: Specialized carnivore. Feeds on soft coral polyps and tissues (especially Sarcophyton and Sinularia species).
Water Quality: Demands standard marine values: pH 8.1-8.4, salinity SG 1.023-1.025, and low nutrient levels.
Compatibility and Tankmates: Not reef-safe. Compatible with large, peaceful fish that will not nip at its mantle.
Aquarium Breeding: Very rare in captivity. Spawns egg capsules on rocks, but planktonic larvae do not survive.
Risks and Diseases: Highly sensitive to copper. Starvation is the main risk if soft corals are not provided as food.
Invertebrate profile
- Type
- Marine snail
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Ecological role
- Soft coral predator (Sarcophyton)
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- 8 dKH - 12 dKH
- TDS
- n/a
- Copper
- High
- Shock sensitivity
- Alta
- Calcium and minerals
- Alto per sostenere il guscio di porcellana.
- Molting
- Non muta, ma sviluppa un guscio liscio e lucido.
- Reproduction
- Rilascia capsule contenenti uova sulle rocce; larve planctoniche difficili da allevare.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Non reef-safe; si nutre di coralli molli del genere Sarcophyton e Sinularia.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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