Need ID 3 Pink Spotted Cowry Shells Eating my dendrone, are they reef safe?

[Hayley]

I found these guys clinging to my Dendronephthya (Thistle Coral).

They are very pretty, are they reef safe? I haven’t been able to find any info on them.

They have a hard shell, pink & orange spots and spikes.

The outer skin retracts when touched to revile the cream hard shell.


http://www.missreeftank.com/images/critter2.jpg

http://www.missreeftank.com/images/pink_critter2.jpg

[bertoni]

I'd suggest posting the pictures in Dr Shimek's forum on Monday, or searching in his forum. They're pretty, but I'd be suspicious about what they're eating.

Actually, you might want to take some more pictures. The sticky notes at the top of his forum say what he needs.

[dberlin]

Most likely eating the coral-ask Dr. Ron

[mygreengoldfish]

They are probably a type of nudibranch or snail that only eat Dendronephthya. There are many creatures like this and few people keep them alive long enough to study their habits and what they do. And they will eat only your Dendronephthya until it is gone, then they will starve to death.

[Hayley]

Thank you for your replies, since i have taken them out of the tank, the dendrone is looking much happier.