I tried using ants in the Bahamas to clean a couple of Patulas. I lost the large one to crabs over night.  Others who tried had dogs or cats chew them, so be sure you put some kind of protection around the shells to allow only the ants to get to them.

---- Martin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

=============
We used an anthill on Kwajalein.  Not many around as they were hunted by
grounds keeping.
They worked nicely - being small they could take a trip around and
around inside.

Covered  disk near a hill and away they go.

Martin

On 5/23/2012 7:53 AM, Olivier Caro wrote:
> Let them rot outside, but not under the sun. Cover them. Wait until
> the... dish starts looking like a litle ugly marsh with kinds of freaky
> mangrove-trees crawling inside. When ready and enjoy the job.
>
> Olivier
>
> Le 23/05/2012 13:52, Ron G. Noseworthy a écrit :
>> Hi, everyone!
>>
>> Yesterday I obtained several species of bubble shells after a trip to
>> a new locality during a minus tide.  Among them are Haloa japonica
>> (Haminoeidae) and Bulla vernicosa (Bullidae).  The fleshy bodies
>> completely cover the rather fragile shells.  How can I clean them
>> properly without breaking the shells?
>>
>> Any information anyone can give me will be much appreciated.
>>
>> All the best!
>> Ron Noseworthy
>
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