Phil:  We kept two aquariums in Ca for years.  We raised Cypraea spadicea and Murex
trialatus quite successfully and some nudibranchs and even some baby sharks.

We found the temperature of our home worked fine.   The cowries loved lettuce and
we frequently brought them kelp and green lettuce from the ocean.   Brine Shrimp
worked well for the carnivores.

Our murex lived for 5-7 yrs and had new varices grow on them.  We had eggs laid but
never hatched.

We actually raised several sharks from the egg cases (that look like Kelp).  We had
one "goober" we raised to be 14" long until he jumped out of the tank one day.  He
actually ate shrimp out of our hand.

We did not use artificial salt water...we were close enough to bring in our own sea
water in our boat.    We frequently took out 5 gallons of water and replaced it
with a fresh supply of 5 gallons just to keep the "tiny" life replenished.

If a cowrie dies, your tank will DIE....literally.  A dead cowrie can ruin a tank
in a very short period of time.    Tanks have to be constantly watched that is for
sure.

We tried octopus and they always escaped some how.   Found them dried to the wall
behind cabinets many years later. *grin*.

Good luck and enjoy.

Bobbi

Phil Liff-Grieff wrote:

> I am in the process of setting up a small cool water (California temperate)
> tank to house mollusks and other critters and could really benefit from advise
> from others who've had some experience with this (Dan and Hiromi Y. and
> others).  My questions are:
>
> 1) temperature- the ambient temp. in my home can get pretty warm- mid 70's in
> summer.  What CA coastal animals will survive in warmer temps? Short of
> purchasing a chiller for the tank, what other options are there?
>
> 2) food- any feeding tricks for local gastropods, crabs, etc.?
>
> 3) substrate- suggestions?
>
> 4) is it possible to keep California nudibranchs successfully in a home tank?
> How about sea hares? echinoids?
>
> Also, to avoid controversy, flaming and counter flaming- yes, I am aware of the
> Fish and Game collecting regulations and I am able to do all of my specimen
> collecting within the limits of those regulations.
>
> Thanks for any and all suggestions.
>
> Phil Liff-Grieff
> [log in to unmask]
> La Crescenta, California

--
Jim and Bobbi Cordy
of Merritt Island, Florida.

Jim Specializes in Self-Collected
Caribbean & Florida Shells

Bobbi in Shell Creations