Cotton is NOT acid free and will gradually turn yellow and also cause Bynes
Disease.
See the cotton in older shells.  Needs to be replaced often.
Shells should be removed from containers and soaked in distilled water
occasionally.  This also will keep them from Bynes Disease,    Also get them
in the air (cool/dry air)
Humidity is the worst as the dampness helps the decaying process.

James M Cheshire wrote:

> I store some of my most valuable shells in sealed plastic boxes filled
> with cotton. I have a gem Conus auricomus, and I keep it in a box filled
> with
> cotton. I have enough cotton in the box so that when I put on the lid, it
> pushes the
> cone into the cotton, thus preventing it from rolling around and
> breaking. I use a similar
> method with my Gaza superba, who's box has a blue foam base. For my 3
> slit shells, I just
> use an old lid of a jewelry box, with a pad of cotton in it. The shell
> rests on the cotton and does not
> touch the box, so it prevent's Byne's disease. As I mentioned before, my
> whole collection is artistically
> arranged on a waxed ceder and redwood bookcase. The front is open, and I
> often have a fan blowing
> on the shells, so that would be pretty adequate ventilation, wouldn't you
> say?
>
> Kind Regards,
> James

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

Jim Specializes in Self-Collected
Caribbean & Florida Shells

Bobbi in Shell Creations