snail shells from the ocean

[renogaw]

i picked up about 10 shells yesterday and boiled them for about 10mins. would that be long enough to kill off anything that was in them? btw, no snails were hurt in this boiling excercise it was just their shells

 

[nick76]

I would bleach 1st then boil, but im sure that would have killed off all the bacteria anyway, u should be fine.

 

[brucewrs]

Boil? I just got about 50 snails from the beach and 20 hermit crabs.I just dumped them in my tank..Some of the shells have living barnicles on them.Looks cool..

 

[alyssia]

You should definitely boil those shells before putting in your tank!

 

[1journeyman]

Well, not if they are alive, hehe.

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
Well, not if they are alive, hehe.

 

[merredeth]

I don't like using bleach for anything when it comes to my tanks or supplies.
I read that you should boil shells for 20 minutes and that will kill everything so bleach wouldn't be necessary.
I'm one to go by the book and past success stories from others on this board - so 10 minutes wouldn't be enough for me.
Denise M.

 

[renogaw]

i boiled for another 10 mins and let them dry out. i'm glad i did, because it looks like i had a baby mantis shrimp living in one of the shells. i don't know if they live in the CT shore, but even if it wasn't im glad its no longer alive.