Empty shells from SWF.com?

[angelap]

I just received my order for 100 empty shells from SFW.com. I was just wondering if anyone else has bought any? They really, really stink. They smell like dead fish. Is this normal? I scared to put them in my tank. What should I do?
Thanks,
Angela

 

[scotts]

Yes they stink. Wait it gets better. You need to boil them for I think 5 minutes. There should be a seet that came with your shipment that tells how long.
You think they stink now. Wait until you boil them. Open the windows.
Scott

 

[lesleybird]

Hi,
I buy my shells at the local hobby store here in Houston. They don't smell when you buy them, and are very cheap.
Lesley

 

[angelap]

It's funny to me to watch them go through the process of changing shells. It takes them forever to decide what new "house" fits them just right! The shells I got were really pretty, just really smelly! I'm gonna try boiling them tonight. I bet they will be so happy to try out their new homes!

 

[mvogel2]

i didn't get a sheet telling me to boil mine...i just gave them a good rinsing, nothing was hurt... if i remember correctly some looked llike they had dead crabs in them....
my lfs sells nice shells, but they are about .75 each , swf is much better.
matt

 

[javatech]

i did mine outside on a camp stove

 

[mishka]

We have a shell store down the street. Some of our crabs chose shells that are so big it is funny. We call them crab mansions!! And it's great to see a huge shell halfway up a rock.

 

[tlk]

Originally posted by mishka
We have a shell store down the street. Some of our crabs chose shells that are so big it is funny. We call them crab mansions!! And it's great to see a huge shell halfway up a rock.
He who dies with the biggest shell wins...right!?

 

[kiddow]

my crabs play shell tag

 

[angelap]

Well I put my new shells in last night. You should have see those crab going for those shells! Very cool to watch!

 

[dopey33]

Originally posted by Bluetangclan
I think I have heard you can go to a crafts store like Michael's and they have shells for sale there too and they prolly dont stink.
Can you realy use those...arent they plastic hobby shells?

 

[nas19320]

The shells that I've used from the craft store are real shells.

 

[dopey33]

really! i always thought those were fake.
What about shells youd find on the beach?
My family has a private beach on Lake Michigan and i've been collecting small shells there for years...if i boil them can they be used?