Reuben Clements wrote:
>
> Hello to all Conch-L'ers out there!:D
>
> My name is Reuben Clements from Singapore. I'm 19 and this is my first time
> writing to this list although i've been subscribed for a month now.
> Finally i've got a problem with my shells affected by Byne's disease. Can
> anyone tell me how to get rid of it? I tried to soak them in denatured
> alcohol but there's no long term protection i guess given the high humidity
> factor of my country. The more serious victims are usually the shells with
> thin bodies like my Conus ione, C.capitanellus and a juvenile Cypraea
> gutatta. I'd appreciate any suggestions!:D Anyway i'm signing off now...be
> back in 1 week's time..take care everybody!
>
 
Dear Reuben,  Once the Byne's disease is in or on the shell, it is
imposible to undo the damage it has done.  You can stop it, but right
now insolate the diseased ones.  When you collect you must remove all of
the animal from the shell.  This is where it starts.  The animal picks
up moisture even if you have had it in alcohol.  The animal will pick up
the moisture and the spores start to grow and then spread to the
outside.  If the shells are sealed in air tight containers, the fungus
will love that. I'm sure you will get a lot of advice on this subject on
types of paper and wood that is also bad for your shells.  But I know
from 40 years of collecting that the main cause is animal in the shell.
If you want to leave animal in the shell for further study then put it
in a solution which I'm sure someone will tell you about later.  That's
it for now, have to go to work.
 
Bob Lipe
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