Money cowrie (Monetaria moneta) care guide

Group

Snails

Other names

Cypraea moneta, Erosaria moneta, Cypraea numisma, Money cowry

Family

Cypraeidae

Origin

Tropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Galapagos; intertidal rocks and tide pools

Water

saltwater

Maximum size

3 cm

Care level

beginner

Reef safe

with_caution

Care

The money cowrie is a small cowrie up to about 3 cm long, with a flattened, roughly hexagonal shell with thickened edges. It is white to beige, often greenish-grey on the back with yellowish edges, and the wide white opening is lined with teeth. In life the shell is covered by the mantle, which is mottled black and off-white. For centuries its shells were used as money across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, with the Maldives as the main source. It is very common on intertidal rocks, tide pools and exposed reefs, among seaweed, coral rubble and empty shells. In the aquarium keep it in a mature reef or marine tank with live rock to graze, under normal reef conditions. It is mostly active at night. Our sources give no water figures for this species. Clean-up role: it grazes algae and other growth on rock and dead coral and is a hardy, useful grazer in a reef. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and check the label of any treatment or fertiliser before use. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monetariamoneta). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Herbivorous grazer of algae and other growth on rock and dead coral. Supplement with dried seaweed or algae wafers when algae runs short.

Breeding

Cowries have separate sexes. Females typically guard a mass of egg capsules, and the larvae are planktonic, so breeding in captivity is rarely achieved. Our sources do not describe its breeding.

Compatibility and tank mates

Generally reef safe: the money cowrie is a grazer rather than a coral-eater, but some cowries may nibble soft corals or sponges, so watch it. Peaceful with fish and invertebrates. Eaten by triggers, puffers and larger wrasses.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.